GB2367241A

GB2367241A - Sprinkler device comprising a valve for extinguisher fluid

Info

Publication number: GB2367241A
Application number: GB0130494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinz-Juergen Loges
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1999-09-24
Filing date: 2000-09-12
Publication date: 2002-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-12
Also published as: AU7644300A; GB0130494D0; DE19945856A1; AU775493B2; DE19945856B4; WO2001023041A1; GB2367241B

Abstract

The invention relates to a sprinkler device comprising a valve for an extinguisher fluid. Said valve opens when a pre-defined criterion is met after a fire breaks out. At least one rapid detection sensor is provided for the early opening of the valve. Said sensor controls the valve directly or accommodated via a fire alarm center. Preferably, the rapid sensor and said valve are in a common housing.

Description

The invention relates to a sprinkler apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. 5 Background to the invention

To extinguish fires, fire extinguishing media are used, which may be liquid or vaporous substances as well as 10 multiphase systems such as foams, powder clouds and the like. The extinguishing action in said case occurs as a result of a smothering effect or a cooling effect or as a result of a catalytic effect. The most important fire extinguishing medium is water, which is used in the form of 15 full jets, spray jets or water mist.

In stationary fire extinguishing systems which are to protect extensive areas, e.g. whole floors of department stores, use is often made of sprinklers which at a defined 20 temperature sprinkle water down from the ceiling. In said case, running inside or below the ceiling there is a pipe network, which is provided at regular intervals with spray nozzles, so-called sprinklers, which are triggered at specific temperatures. Said spray nozzles are divided into 25 glass-vessel, melting-solder and melting-crystal sprinklers of a stationary or suspended design.

A particular problem posed by the use of sprinkler systems to extinguish fires is the response time, i.e. the time 30 which elapses between the initial outbreak of fire and the start of extinguishing. Said response time should be as short as possible but, at the same time, rule out false tripping. In order to activate a fire extinguishing system, the existence of a fire has to be detected. This requires sensors, which respond to criteria associated with the outbreak of a fire: heat or smoke development as well as the formation of specific chemical products. 5 Pr or art The most commonly installed sprinkler systems comprise sprinkler heads, which are connected to a network of water 10 pipes containing water under pressure. Provided in each of said sprinkler heads there is, for example, a small glass tube containing a fluid which, as the temperature rises, expands and at a defined temperature, e.g. 700C, bursts the small glass tube, whereupon water is released (GB 1 527 15 358). The water is released after bursting of the small glass tube because the small glass tube also performs a valve function. In order to uniformly distribute the water flowing out of the network of pipes, at the bottom end of a small glass tube a distributor is provided, which comprises 20 a circular disk having notches at its edge (US 5 366 022, US 5 579 846, US 5 890 657).

The drawback of said known sprinklers is that they respond only at a relatively late stage because it often takes a 25 very long time before, in the event of a fire, a temperature of around 70'C develops at the small glass tube of a sprinkler head. During said time considerable parts of a warehouse or the like may already be destroyed. What is more, too much time elapses before the fire service is 30 alerted because, as a rule, it is only when the sprinkler system has been activated that an alarm signal is sent to the fire service.

To enable early detection of a fire, various quick-response sensors have already been proposed, e.g. smoke alarms (DE 197 41 853 Al) and gas detectors (DE 197 41 335 Al). With the aid of said sensors it is possible to alert the 5 fire service even before activation of a sprinkler system. Although the reliability of modern fire alarms is very high, in critical cases they occasionally react to deceptive variables. Because of the large number of fire alarms in use the number of false alarms and the number of 10 times that the fire service is inappropriately deployed is not negligible. In order to minimize said false alarms, a plurality of different types of sensor have already been combined with one another. A fire alarm signal is sent to the fire service e.g. only when both a chemical sensor and 15 a smoke detector have detected fire. The appropriate evaluation of the sensor signals is effected in a fire alarm control centre, which also controls an extinguishing system, wherein the controller is designed for the installation to be actually protected. Upon automatic 20 detection of a fire and triggering of the extinguishing system, extinguishing medium is applied for a predetermined time at a constant intensity onto a predetermined area.

In order to effect an optimum extinguishing operation after 25 a fire alarm, it is however also known to regulate the spraying intensity. For said purpose so-called extinguishing system controllers are known (Oberhagemann/Bicitte: Development and manufacture of a programmable extinguishing system controller and control 30 system, VFDB 3/98, 1998), which is realized by fire alarm control centres. The control logic operations are either exclusively hardware-wired in the control centres or, in the case of software logic operation in microprocessor- controlled control centres and controllers of more than one extinguishing region, require a hardware redundancy of the essential central controller modules. All of the control operations of the extinguishing system are effected in the 5 control centre. To said end, all of the necessary detectors, sensors and control organs are connected to the control centre, which in the case of extensive extinguishing systems involves an, at times, high material and wiring outlay for the extinguishing system controller.

10 An adaptation of the extinguishing medium output in accordance with the extinguishing progress resulting from the interaction between the extinguishing medium and the fire, e.g. through repeated interrogation of automatic fire alarms, is provided only in the most recent systems.

is The drawback of said extinguishing system controllers is that, although they may detect a fire early and take extinguishing measures correspondingly quickly, the initiation of water sprinkling by means of sprinkler 20 systems is not expedited because for said purpose, as before, there has to be a temperature of around 700C at the sprinkler head.

object of the invention The object of the invention is, in the event of a fire, to cause an existing sprinkler system to sprinkle an extinguishing liquid even before the existence of an alarm initiating temperature of around 700C at the sprinkler 30 head.

Achievement of the object Said object is achieved according to the features of claim 1. 5 The invention therefore relates to a sprinkler apparatus having a valve for extinguishing liquid, which valve opens given a defined criterion, which arises in the event of fire. To enable early opening of said valve, at least one 10 rapid sensor is provided, which controls the valve either directly or via a fire alarm control centre. The rapid sensor and the valve are preferably accommodated in a common housing.

15 Advantages of the invention The advantage achieved by the invention is in particular that the damage caused by a fire is minimized. Because of the very early spraying of water the fire is, as it were, 20 nipped in the bud, i.e. at the smouldering stage. As a result, less extinguishing water is consumed, people and property are better protected, the environment suffers less pollution and fire service personnel are exposed to less risk.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show:

Fig. 1 a schematic view of the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a housing for receiving sensors; Fig. 3 a sprinkler head; Figs. 4a, 4b an LED-photodiode combination in different states; Fig. S a sprinkler head small tube with external 5 heating; Fig. 6 a sprinkler head small tube with internal heating; Fig. 7 a sprinkler head small tube with a bursting charge; 10 Fig. 8 a sprinkler head small tube with a piezoelectric strip; Fig. 9 a continuously controllable sprinkler valve.

Detailed description of the drawings

Fig. I illustrates the principle of the invention by way of a sectional view. Connected to a water pipe 1, which is disposed e.g. on a storage room ceiling, is a housing 2 which is used also in conventional fire alarms. Said 20 housing 2 comprises a cylindrical part 3, which directly adjoins the water pipe 1, as well as a conical region 4, which has its apex 5 directed away from the water pipe 1. The cylindrical part 3 is closed off in the direction of the conical region 4 by a base 6, which has a plurality of 25 holes, e.g. holes 7, 8, thereby enabling an exchange of gas between the space 9 enclosed by the conical region 4 and the space 10 enclosed by the cylindrical part 3. The conical region 4 of the housing 2 likewise has openings, which allow an exchange of gas between the storage room, in 30 which the housing 2 is situated, and the space 9.

Situated in the space 10 enclosed by the cylindrical part 3 is a plurality of sensors 11, 12, 13, which may respond to various parameters of a fire. For example, sensor 11 may be a smoke detecting sensor, sensor 12 a sensor which responds to heat, and sensor 13 a sensor which responds to specific chemical products. 5 In the water pipe 1 a valve 14 is shown which, when water flows through the water pipe 1, passes a signal to a fire control centre 15. From said fire control centre 15 the fire service may be alerted and the valve 14 controlled.

From the fire control centre 15 it is also possible e.g. cyclically to scan the various sensors 11, 12, 13 and control the valve 14 according to a specific algorithm. Said algorithm may be a signal-orientated algorithm, which 15 evaluates the limit values of important individual measured quantities and/or their time gradients with a fixed or adaptive threshold value. Alternatively, however, a stateorientated algorithm may be used, which continuously monitors the environment through the use of pattern 20 recognition methods. It is also possible for the signals of a gas sensor array, a scattered-light sensor and a temperature sensor to be combined with the different evaluation methods. As a valve, a modified valve according to Fig. 9 may be used. Given the use of such a valve in 25 the water pipe 1, the components 88 to 91 and 92 to 96 no longer apply. Thus, the water supply per pipe train is controlled in dependence upon the sensors 11 to 13 of the sprinkler apparatus of said pipe train. The cone 74 always has to release the opening 75 for there to be water 30 pressure at the sprinkler apparatus.

The supply of power to the parts situated in the housing 2 may be effected either via a battery or via a nonillustrated electric line.

5 Screwed into the water pipe 1 is a valve 16 which, when specific criteria are met, opens and sprays water down through the openings of the conical region 4. The command to open the valve 16 may be effected either in a decentralized or centralized manner. In the case of 10 decentralized opening, the sensors situated in the housing 2 - optionally via amplifiers - effect the opening of the valve whereas, in the case of centralized opening, the open command comes from the fire control centre 15.

15 Although Fig. I shows only a single housing 2, it is selfevident that corresponding housings may be disposed at defined intervals on a ceiling, wherein all of the sensors of the various housings are connected to the same fire control centre 15.

Between the cylindrical part 3 and the conical part 4 apparatuses not shown in Fig. 1 may also be provided, which effect an explosive severing of the conical region 4 from the cylindrical part 3 when the valve 16 opens. As a 25 result, the water and/or some other extinguishing liquid may be sprinkled more efficiently.

In Fig. 2 the cylindrical part 3 and the conical region 4 of the housing 2 are shown once more in detail and in a 30 perspective view. Here, it may be seen that the conical region comprises a plurality of rings 20 to 24, which become progressively smaller from top to bottom and are connected to one another by webs 25, 26. The bottom end of the housing 2 is closed off by a cap 27, which may comprise a luminous element 28, which flashes in the event of danger. A ring 29 may take the form of a bursting ring, which brings about a detachment of the cylindrical part 3 5 from the conical region 4.

Fig. 3 shows an, as such, known sprinkler head 30 which may be used as valve 16 in the arrangement according to Fig. 1 and comprises a small glass tube 31 filled with a liquid, 10 which expands as the temperature rises. Said small glass tube 31 is mounted by its bottom end in a distributor plate 32, which is used to distribute water. The top end of the small glass tube 31 acts as a valve and is mounted in a holding device 33, which in turn is connected to a screw 15 thread 34. The holding device 33 and the distributor plate 32 are connected to one another by means of two webs 35, 36. With the aid of the screw thread 34 the sprinkler head 30 is screwed into the water pipe 1 (Fig. 1).

20 In the event of a fire, the liquid in the small tube 31 heats up and bursts the glass as soon as the ambient temperature has reached approximately 700C.

According to the invention, bursting of the glass may occur 25 even before a temperature of 70'C arises in the vicinity of the small glass tube 31. For said purpose, various resources may be used, such as are described below.

For triggering early bursting of the glass, the already 30 previously mentioned and, as such, known sensors are provided.

In Figs. 4a and 4b one of said sensors, e.g. the sensor 13, is shown in detail. In the present case, said sensor is a gas measuring instrument, which comprises a light-emitting diode 40 and a light-sensitive diode 41. The light- 5 sensitive diode 41 is situated in a small glass container, which at its end directed towards the light-emitting diode 40 is provided with a gas- sensitive polymer 42. Said polymer is of a specific colour (Fig. 4a) and in the presence of a gas, which develops during a fire, changes to 10 another colour (Fig. 4b). Since the two colours differ in their transmittance, said colour change is detected and interpreted as a criterion for the occurrence of a fire. The electrical terminal of the light-sensitive diode 41 may be connected directly to an apparatus, which destroys the 15 glass of the sprinkler head 30 and/or connects to the fire control centre 15.

Instead of or in addition to the gas-sensitive sensor it is possible to use a smoke detecting, optical and/or 20 semiconductor sensor for detecting CO, H2S. NOx, NH3 and Cl.

The gas-sensitive sensor need not operate optically but may be realized by means of an electrochemical cell which responds e. g. to CO, H2, H2S and S02. The sensor may moreover be a non-dispersive or dispersive infrared 25 spectrometer, which detects CO, H2, H2S, S02, N02, NO, 02 and NH3- It is also possible to use pellistors, which detect CO and combustible gases, as well as piezoelectric elements for detecting organic compounds or photoluminescence and chemiluminescence sensors.

Fig. 5 shows a first embodiment, with the aid of which early bursting of the small glass tube 31 may be effected.

The small glass tube 31 in the present case is surrounded by a resistance wire 50, which is connected by a switch 51 to an electrical energy source 52. The switch 51 is activated via a signal line 53 by the diode 41 as soon as the latter has detected fire. The resistance wire 50 5 consequently heats up the liquid situated in the small glass tube 31, with the result that said liquid extensively expands and causes the small tube 31 to burst. Thus, the small tube 31 no longer shuts off the water in the water pipe 1, with the result that said water passes via the 10 distributor apparatus 32 into the area on fire.

By virtue of the resistance wire 50 the liquid in the small tube 31 is heated up much earlier than would be the case if only the hot air caused by the fire had, through 15 convection, generated 700C in the immediate vicinity of the small tube 31. However, the embodiment according to Fig. 5 also still has a specific inertia because it takes some time for the heat generated by the resistance wire 50 to penetrate through the glass to the liquid.

Fig. 6 therefore shows a variant of the invention which enables an even faster reaction. Here, a resistance wire 54 is disposed, not at the outside of the small glass tube 31, but in the small glass tube 31 itself, i.e. the 25 resistance wire is surrounded by the liquid which expands as the temperature rises. There is therefore a very rapid transfer of heat from the resistance wire 54 to the liquid surrounding it.

30 A further variant for destroying the small glass tube 31 is shown in Fig. 7. Here, destruction is effected, not by means of the expanding liquid, but by means of a pressure which is exerted on the wall of the small glass tube 31.

Disposed at the outside of the small glass tube 31 is a bursting charge 55, which comprises a solid propellant charge 56, which may be detonated via a line 57. By virtue of the explosion of said propellant charge which, as in an 5 airbag, may consist of sodium azide (NaN3), the small tube 31 is destroyed, and the water may flow out of the pipe 1. Destruction of the small glass tube 31 is particularly easy when the small glass tube is segmented, i.e. comprises various parts, e.g. 58, 59, which are bonded not too firmly 10 to one another.

A further, non-illustrated variant is such that in the small glass tube 31 a chemical substance is provided, which is activated by the sensor, thereby triggering a chemical 15 reaction which effects heating of the medium situated in the glass container 31.

Fig. 8 shows a further arrangement, by means of which the small glass tube may be burst. Here, a piezoelectric strip 20 62 is wrapped around the small glass tube 31 and may be connected via a switch 60 to a voltage source 61. When the switch 60 is closed as a result of a command coming from the line 63, the voltage is applied to the strip 62, which then contracts and bursts the small glass tube. Here, the 25 so-called reverse piezoelectric effect is utilized, socalled electrostriction. If, instead of a direct voltage, a high-frequency alternating voltage is applied to the strip, sound may be generated. Said sound may likewise destroy the small glass tube, namely particularly when its 30 frequency is tuned to the resonant frequency of the small tube. The strip may be made of ceramic materials, e.g. titanate and niobate ceramic materials. There are however also plastics materials which present piezoelectric characteristics, e.g. polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF2). The flexibility and plasticity of said material, which presents a piezoelectric effect three to five times as great as crystalline quartzes, make it possible to place a strip 62 5 around the small glass tube 31.

The voltage sources 52, 61 shown in Figs. 5, 6, 8 may be situated in the control centre 15 or in the housing 2 and/or supplied to the housing 2 via lines. When the 10 voltage sources are situated in the housing 2, they preferably take the form of batteries or accumulators.

A variant, which does not involve the shattering of a small glass tube, is shown in Fig. 9. Here, screwed in a 15 protuberance 70 of the water pipe 1 is a thread 71, which is part of a controllable valve 72. Said valve 72 has a housing 73, in which a cone 74 is situated. With the aid of said cone 74 an opening 75, which is formed by two webs 76, 77, may be closed to a greater or lesser extent. This 20 is possible by virtue of the fact that the cone 74 has a shank 78, which is provided with a screw thread, which extends through the reinforcement 79 of a water pipe 80. The said two webs 76, 77 are firmly connected at the inside of said pipe 80 to the latter. Diagrammatically 25 illustrated at the end of the shank 78 is a coupling 81, which demonstrates that the shank 78 may be connected to the shaft 82 of a motor 83. Said motor 83 is connected by electric lines 84, 85 to an electrical connector 86, to which a cable 87 is run. The current carried by said cable 30 87 may once again be supplied in a centralized or decentralized manner. The cable, besides the power supply leads, also contains a data line, by means of which control signals may be passed to the motor 83.

If the control centre 15 has detected a fire, it gives the motor 83 the command to move the cone away from the opening so that water may pass from the water pipe 1 through the 5 opening 75 to a dispensing nozzle 88 and from there to a distributor 89. Said distributor 89 is connected by means of webs 90, 91 to the pipe 80.

In the case of decentralized control, the sensors 92, 93, 10 94 may directly control the motor 83 optionally via evaluation circuits, amplifiers and the like. In the case of centralized control, the sensors 92, 93, 94 are scanned by the control centre 15, their signals are processed and the motor 83 is controlled from the control centre.

So that the sensors 92 to 94 are swept by the outside air, they are-situated in a part of the housing 73 provided with holes 95, 96 etc.

Claims

1. Sprinkler apparatus having a valve, which opens given defined criteria, characterized in that said valve 5 (16) is controlled by a sensor (11, 12, 13), which responds quickly to parameters arising in the event of a fire.

2. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, 10 characterized in that the valve (16) and the sensor (11, 12, 13) are accommodated in a common housing (2).

3. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (16) comprises a glass 15 container (31) filled with a medium, which expands with increasing temperature and at a defined temperature bursts the glass container (31).

4. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 3, 20 characterized in that the glass container (31) is surrounded by a resistance wire (50), which is controlled by the sensor (11, 12, 13) and is heated up by an electrical energy source.

5. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that extending along the inside of the glass container (31) is a resistance wire (54), which is controlled by the sensor (11, 12, 13) and is heated up by an electrical energy source.

6. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that provided in the glass container (31) is a chemical substance, which is activated by the sensor, thereby triggering a chemical reaction which effects heating of the medium situated in the glass container.

7. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that disposed on the glass container (31) is a bursting charge (55), which is controlled by the sensor (11, 12, 13) and bursts the glass container (31).

8. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the bursting charge comprises sodium azide (NaN3)- is

9. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is a smoke detecting optical sensor (11).

10. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, 20 characterized in that the sensor is a sensor which responds to gases arising in the event of fire.

11. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor is an electrochemical 25 cell, which responds to CO, H2, H2S and S02

12. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor is a non-dispersive or dispersive infrared spectrometer, which detects CO, 30 H2, H2S, S02, N02, NO, 02 and NH3-

13. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor is a pellistor, which detects CO and combustible gases.

14. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor is a semiconductor sensor or metal-oxide sensor, which detects CO, H2S, NO,,, NH3 and Cl.

15. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor is a piezoelectric element, which detects organic compounds.

16. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor is a photoluminescence and chemiluminescence sensor, which detects NO,.

17. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of sensors (11, 12, 13) are provided, which control the valve (16) by means of an evaluation algorithm.

25

18. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the algorithm is a signal orientated algorithm, which evaluates the limit values of important individual measured quantities and/or their time gradients with a fixed and adaptive 30 threshold value.

19. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the algorithm is a state- orientated algorithm, which continuously monitors the environment through the use of pattern recognition methods.

5

20.Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the signals of a gas sensor array, a scattered-light sensor and a temperature sensor are combined with the different evaluation methods.

21. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (16) is connected to a water supply pipe (1), in which is situated a flow detector (14), which is connected to a fire alarm 15 control centre (15).

22. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the controllable mechanical valve (72) is used also as a valve (14) serving as a 25 malfunction detector.

22. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve is a controllable mechanical valve (72).

23. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the valve has a movable closure element (74), which opens and closes an opening (75) inside a pipe (80) to a greater or lesser extent, 25 wherein said closure element is connected to a controllable motor (83).

Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that the controllable mechanical 30 valve (72) is used also as a valve (14) serving as a malfunction detector.

P Amended claims 1. Sprinkler apparatus having a valve, which opens given 5 defined criteria, wherein said valve (16) is controlled by a sensor (11, 12, 13), which responds quickly to parameters arising in the event of a fire, characterized in that the valve (16) and the sensor (11, 12, 13) are accommodated in a common housing and 10 that a plurality of sensors (11, 12, 13) are provided, which control the valve (16) by means of an evaluation algorithm.

2. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, 15 characterized in that the valve (16) comprises a glass container (31) filled with a medium, which expands with increasing temperature and at a defined temperature bursts the glass container.

20 3. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the glass container (31) is surrounded by a resistance wire (50), which is controlled by the sensor (11, 12, 13) and is heated up by an electrical energy source.

4. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that extending along the inside of the glass container (31) is a resistance wire (54), which is controlled by the sensor (11, 12, 13) and is 30 heated up by an electrical energy source.

S. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that provided in the glass container (31) is a chemical substance, which is activated by the sensor, thereby triggering a chemical reaction which effects heating of the medium situated in the glass container. 5 6. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that disposed on the glass container (31) is a bursting charge (55), which is controlled by the sensor (11, 12, 13) and bursts the glass container 10 (31).

7. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the bursting charge comprises sodium azide (NaN3) is 8. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is a smoke detecting optical sensor (11).

9. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor is a sensor (13, 40, 41, 42), which responds to gases arising in the event of fire.

25 10. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor is an electrochemical cell, which responds to CO, H2, H2S and S02 11. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 9, 30 characterized in that the sensor is a non-dispersive or dispersive infrared spectrometer, which detects CO, H2, H2S, S02, N02, NO, 02 and NH3 - 12. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor is a pellistor, which detects CO and combustible gases.

13. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor is a semiconductor sensor or metal-oxide sensor, which detects CO, H2S, NOx, NH3 and Cl.

10 14. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor is a piezoelectric element, which detects organic compounds.

15. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 9, 15 characterized in that the sensor is a photoluminescence and chemiluminescence sensor, which detects NOx.

16. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, 20 characterized in that the algorithm is a signal orientated algorithm, which evaluates the limit values of important individual measured quantities and/or their time gradients with a fixed and adaptive threshold value.

2S 17. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the algorithm is a state orientated algorithm, which continuously monitors the environment through the use of pattern recognition 30 methods.

18. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the signals of a gas sensor array, a scattered-light sensor and a temperature sensor are combined with the different evaluation methods.

19. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (16) is connected to a water supply pipe (1), in which is situated a flow detector (14), which is connected to a fire alarm control centre (15).

20. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve is a controllable mechanical valve (72).

15 21. Sprinkler apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the valve has a movable closure element (74), which opens and closes an opening (7S) inside a pipe (80) to a greater or lesser extent, wherein said closure element is connected to a 20 controllable motor (83).