10,126. Thomas, P. H. May 5, 1906, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Distributing ; regulating. -In a system of electric distribution by means of vapour apparatus, each device is supplied from an auto-transformer, and one or more of these is provided with a resistance, automatically placed in shunt with it, which will transmit, current to the other devices in the event of the device becoming inoperative. The autotransformers 15 are placed in series and connected to the positive electrodes 9, 10, while the negative electrodes 11 are connected to intermediate points in the transformers through choking-coils 16. A shunt resistance 17 is placed across one or more of the devices, and is under normal conditions cut out of circuit. Should, however, the device become inoperative, the switch 19 automatically inserts the resistance, and the device becomes short-circuited. A supplementary winding 20 connected to a starting-band 100 may be added to one or more of the auto-transformers, in order to obtain an accelerated electromotive force upon starting. The Specification in the original form as published under the Act of 1901 comprises also a conductor 7, Fig. 1, connecting the main 1 to a positive electrode 10 and a negative electrode 11 of of the vapour device 6 through a choke coil 12. A choke coil 13 is placed between the electrode 11 and a second positive electrode 9 through a conductor 14. This arrangement is continued through all the devices until the return conductor 8 is reached. When the lamps are connected to mains carrying variable currents, a regulator is employed so that the cutting in or out of the devices may be compensated for. In a modification, shown in Fig. 4, the lamps are placed in parallel between the conductors 7, 8. Two coils 36, 37 are placed between the negative electrode 11 and the wire 22. A conductor connects the electrode 10 to a supplementary positive electrode 40 through a resistance 39. When energy is supplied to the system, the coil 36 acts as a starting-coil, lifting the iron pieces 40 out of contact with the electrode 11, and thereby causing the current to flow, in the usual manner. Instead of raising the contact 40, the coil 36 may te arranged to shake the container. Electro-magnetic arrangements are shown attached to the devices 34, 35, for cutting out the starting-device. Another modification is shown in Fig. 5, in which a supplementary positive electrode 59 is employed. Current from the point 56 flows through the switch 57, conductors 62, 63, resistance 65, and contact 64 in connexion with the electrode 11. The coil 36 is thereby energized and the cut-out 57 and contact 64 operated, when the current will pass through the electrode 59 and through the apparatus. In a modification of this form, the coil 36 causes the contact 64 to vibrate and so to start the lamp. Several forms of regulators for use on circuits carrying variable currents are shown. This subject-matter does not appear in the Complete Specification as accepted.