146 THE GOVERNOR. 



with gas from the same mains. While the establishments are open, the lights 

 in the adjacent houses are low and feeble, often too much so for the necessary 

 purposes of the consumer ; but the moment the manufactories are closed, the 

 great quantity of gas which they previously carried off being transferred to 

 such of the shops or private houses as continue to be lighted, their flames are 

 raised to an extragavant height, and burn with the formation of large quanti- 

 ties of smoke, from the imperfect combustion of the gas. The remedy for all 

 these evils, resulting from the various degrees of velocity of gas through the 

 mains, is to be found in the Governor. 



It is true, that at a certain time during the evening, when a number of lights 

 ought to have been turned off, the slide-valve at the entrance of the main on 

 the works may be partially closed by the attendant, but this never effects the 

 object properly ; whereas the Governor, besides being self-acting, regulates the 

 supply exactly according to the demand. This is especially valuable where 

 meters are used. 



For the purpose of lighting all ordinary districts, one leading main from the 

 works is sufficient, and therefore one governor. If it be necessary to have 

 more than one leading main, a separate governor must be used to each. 



Lisbon is an example of a town that would require not less than three sepa- 

 rate pipes of supply, because its elevations are great, and rise suddenly in 

 terraces, one above the other ; but there are few towns that would present 

 such difficult sections ; still, without considering the number of leading mains, 

 I should use governors to them all. 



In Plate XVIII. will be found an elevation, in section, and a plan of a 

 governor capable of equalizing the flow of 300,000 cubic feet of gas in twenty- 

 four hours. 

 A A is a cast-iron tank containing water, five feet four inches diameter, and 



four feet six inches deep, in which the regulating vessel B B floats. 

 C is a cone of cast iron, turned true in the lathe, and suspended by an eye- 

 bolt to the top of the floating vessel. 



D is the inlet-pipe, having a plate d on the top, furnished with an aperture, 

 bored out to fit the diameter of the cone at the base, and which, if raised 

 to that height, wilt completely shut off" the gas from entering the vessel. 

 E is the outlet-pipe, its diameter being regulated by the distance to which it 



has to convey the gas to the equilibrium-cylinder of the street-mains. 

 The floating vessel B, when immersed in water, of course loses a portion of 



