Patent ID: 8165722

Claim:
A velocity and concentration adjustable coupling pipe apparatus equipped between a lifting pipe and a collector of a mining system having a collector, a lifting pipe, a lifting pump, and an onboard processor to mine manganese nodule from a floor of a deep sea, the coupling pipe apparatus comprising: a coupling pipe having a lower inlet and an upper outlet which are different in diameter from each other; a seawater inlet pipe passing through a side surface of the coupling pipe to permit inflow of seawater; a slurry flow control valve provided in the coupling pipe, and opening or closing to control an inflow of slurry; a seawater flow control valve provided in the seawater inlet pipe, and opening or closing to control an inflow of the seawater; a first sensor measuring a concentration of slurry discharged through the upper outlet; a second sensor measuring a velocity of slurry discharged through the upper outlet; a third sensor measuring a velocity of slurry introduced into the lower inlet; and a control panel connected to the first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor via a circuit, thus controlling an opening ratio of each of the slurry flow control valve and the seawater flow control valve based on the measured velocity and concentration.