Cone (fire extinguisher)

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Cone

The first mass-produced fire extinguisher was known colloquially as the pointed cone due to its cone shape. The Minimax company founder Wilhelm Graaff (1872–1931) brought the fire extinguisher to the market in December 1902. The so-called Spitztüte received in 1903 the name Minimax under the motto minimum price, weight and size, with maximum simplicity and efficiency . The portable fire extinguisher was patented in 1904. Many millions of copies were produced by 1960.

When filled, the cone weighed nine kilograms. The principle was simple and effective: a glass cylinder filled with hydrochloric acid was destroyed by bumping into the floor . The contents reacted with the six liter filling of an aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate salt solution, and within two seconds the released carbon dioxide generated an overpressure of four to five atmospheres. This drove the extinguishing liquid through a riser pipe to the nozzle and sprayed it up to twelve meters wide and eight meters high. The extinguishing effect was mainly based on the cooling effect of the water, whereby the chemicals and carbon dioxide contained in it also had a fire-retardant effect. The basic principle has remained the same with modern extinguishers.

Since the cone was always ready to use and very easy to use, it quickly became a best seller and was sold worldwide after just a few years. The German poet Joachim Ringelnatz designed slogans to accompany advertising , such as For example: “Fire does not spread, do you have Minimax in the house” or “A scream, it burns! One push, one crack, Minimax splashes twelve meters ” .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Graaff, Wilhelm. in: Rudolf Vierhaus (Ed.): German Biographical Encyclopedia (DBE). 2nd, revised and expanded edition, Volume 4 "Görres - Hittorp", KG Saur, Munich 2006, p. 76
  2. ↑ Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Object of the Month April 2017 [1]