Improvements relating to Spindles for Spinning and Doubling Machinery.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd M y, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Spindles for Spinning and Doubling
Machinery.
I JOHN DODD of Hartford Works, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to what are ordinarily termed self-contained spindles, and
consists in improvements in the construction of such apparatus, the object of the
invention being chiefly to simplify and improve the construction of the bolsters and
bolster-carriers, and to provide for facilitating the oiling of the spindles.
In carrying out my invention, I form the bolster carrier of steel or other suitable
material, and bore or turn it out so as to form it with an internal collar, which is
afterwards partially cut away, so as to form a lock and support for the bolster.
The bolster to receive the spindle is preferably cylindrical and parallel, and is
cut away or flattened on both sides for a portion of its length, these flattened
portions fitting against the shoulders or key formed out of the collar in the bolster
carrier. The bolster, when placed in the bolster carrier, will thus be held against
rotating with the spindle, and no difficulty will be experienced, as is now often the
case, in inserting the bolster in the carrier. In the bolster, and also in the bolster
carrier, there are formed suitable holes and channels for the passage of oil to and
from the bearings of the spindle."
A collar is formed on the bolster carrier, and upon the bolster carrier, and above
the collar, there is formed a screw thread, upon which a nut is screwed, after the
upper part of the bolster carrier has been passed through the spindle rail from its
lower side, so as to secure the bolster carrier to the spindle rail.
A part of the bolster carrier which projects below the collar, is formed slightly
taper, to receive a reservoir for oil, which is forced tightly upon the taper part of
the bolster carrier, so as to be united thereto in a reliable and substantial manner.
One portion of the reservoir is prolonged upwards in front of the spindle rail, so
as to form a kind of fuunel, which may extend above the level of the spindle-rail.
The top of the funnel is preferably covered by a lid or any other suitable
kind of cover, to keep dust and dirt out of the reservoir. When the lid or cover
is lifted up or removed, the tube of a syringe can be passed down the funnel into
the lowest part of the reservoir, where the dirty oil collects, so that it can be
removed, pumped, or drawn out, without the whole of the oil being removed from
the reservoir, and without the spindle being removed from the bolster carrier.
A washer is placed between the nut on the bolster-carrier and the top of the
spindle-rail, and secured in position by the screwing down of the nut. To this
washer is secured a retaining hook, for preventing the spindle from being lifted out
of the bolster carrier.
The retaining hook which I prefer to use, consists of a piece of wire formed with
a loop, which extends sideways from the vertical part of the hook, which loop is
twisted so as to form a handle, by means of which the hook can be turned, so as to
liberate the spindle without it being necessary to use a key or other device.
On lifting the lid of the funnel, or removing the cover, the attendant can see
whether the oil in the reservoir requires renewing, and oil can be supplied, or the
dirty oil may be removed whilst the machine is at work.
In the above named arrangement of my invention, I have described the reservoir

page_text: as being formed separate from the bolster carrier, but it will be obvious that the
reservoir may be cast in one piece with, or formed out of the same piece of metal
as the bolster carrier, or part thereof.
In some cases, I may form the bolster carrier in such a manner that the collar
formed upon it may rest upon the top of the spindle-rail.
Upon a part of the bolster carrier which is below the collar, there is formed a
screw thread, upon which a nut is screwed, after the lower part of the bolster
carrier has been put through the spindle-rail from its upper side, so that such nut
will secure the bolster carrier to the spindle rail.
The part of the bolster-carrier below the thread is formed slightly taper, to
receive the oil reservoir before described.
In this arrangement the retaining hook is secured to the collar of the bolster
carrier.
The bolster carrier made in this way may be inserted in a notch in the spindle
rail, after the nut and reservoir have been secured upon such bolster carrier, and
the bolster carrier is fixed to the rail by tightening up the nut.
Bolsters made according to my invention may be employed in conjunction with
bolster carriers other than those herein before described, and bolster carriers made
according to my invention may be employed in conjunction with bolsters of other
kinds than are herein before described.
Oil reservoirs made according to my invention may be employed in conjunction
with bolster carriers of other kinds than those hereinbefore described.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1895
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.
Improvements relating to Spindles for Spinning and Doubling
Machinery.
I, JOHN DODD, of Hartford Works, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to what are ordinarily termed self-contained spindles, and
consists in improvements in the construction of such apparatus the object of the
invention being chiefly to simplify and improve the construction of the bolsters
and bolster-carriers, and to provide for facilitating the oiling of the spindles.
In carrying out my invention I form the bolster-carrier of steel or other
suitable material and bore or turn it out, so as to form it with an internal collar,
which is afterwards partially cut away so as to form a lock and support for the
bolster.
The bolster to receive the spindle is preferably cylindrical and parallel and is
cut away or flattened on both sides for a portion of its length, these flattened
portions fitting against the shoulders or key formed out of the collar in the
bolster-carrier. The bolster, when placed in the bolster-carrier, will thus be held
against rotating with the spindle, and no difficulty will be experienced, as is now
often the case in inserting the bolster in the carrier. In the bolster, and also in
the bolster-carrier, there are formed suitable holes and channels for the passage of
oil to and from the bearings of the spindle.
A collar is formed on the bolster-carrier, and upon the bolster-carrier, and
above the collar, there is formed a screw-thread, upon which a nut is screwed,
after the upper part of the bolster-carrier has been passed through the spindle-rail
from its lower side, so as to secure the bolster-carrier to the spindle-rail.
A part of the bolster-carrier which projects below the collar, is formed slightly

page_text: taper, to receive a reservoir for oil, which is forced tightly upon the taper part of
the bolster-carrier, so as to make an oil-tight joint, and be united thereto in a
reliable and substantial manner:
In a former Specification No. 238 A.D. 1882 of a Patent granted to myself and
George Little, is described an arrangement in which there is a chamber formed
below the bolster communicating with a passage through which the tube of a pump
can be inserted in order to withdraw the oil. An arrangement by which dirty
oil can be so withdrawn presents in practice great advantages over arrangements
such as that of a removable oil-cup which has to be removed in order to withdraw
the dirty oil, but the arrangement described in such former specification has not
enabled the principle to be utilized in practice.
By prolonging the oil-reservoir so as to form a branch which projects below and
in front of the rail, through which the tube of the pump can be passed to
withdraw the oil instead of passing the tube down through an opening formed in
the bolster as in the former arrangement, I am enabled to overcome the
disadvantages inherent in the former arrangement.
One portion of the oil-reservoir is prolonged upwards in front of the spindle-rail,
so as to form a kind of funnel which may extend above the level of the spindle-
rail and so secure a head of oil in the bolster sufficient to enable the oil to
rise freely to the upper bearing of the spindle without any special oil lifting
device.
The top of the funnel is preferably covered by a lid or any other suitable kind
of cover to keep dust and dirt out of the reservoir. When the lid or cover is
lifted up or removed, the tube of a pump or syringe can be passed down the
funnel into the lowest part of the reservoir, where the dirty oil collects, so that it
can be removed, pumped or drawn out, without the whole of the oil being removed
from the reservoir and without the spindle being removed from the bolster-
carrier.
A washer is placed between the nut on the bolster-carrier and the top of the
spindle-rail and secured in position by the screwing down of the nut. To this
washer is secured a retaining or holding down hook for preventing the spindle from
being lifted out of the bolster-carrier."
The retaining or holding down hook which I prefer to use consists of a piece of
wire formed with a loop which extends sideways from the vertical part of the
hook, which loop is twisted so as to form a handle, by means of which the hook
can be turned, so as to liberate the spindle without it being necessary to use a key
or other device.
On lifting the lid of the funnel, or removing the cover, the attendant can
ascertain whether the oil in the reservoir requires renewing, and oil can be supplied
or the dirty oil may be removed whilst the machine is at work.
In the above named arrangement of my invention I have described the reservoir
as being formed separate from the bolster-carrier, but it will be obvious that the
reservoir may be cast in one piece with or formed out of the same piece of metal
as the holster-carrier, or part thereof.
In some cases, may form the bolster-carrier in such a manner that the collar
formed upon it may rest upon the top of the spindle-rail.
Upon a part of the bolster-carrier which is below the collar there is formed a
screw-thread upon which a nut is screwed after the lower part of the bolster-
carrier has been put through the spindle-rail from its upper side, so that such nut
will secure the bolster-carrier to the spindle-rail.
The part of the bolster-carrier below the thread is formed slightly taper to
receive the oil-reservoir before described.
In this arrangement, the retaining or holding down hook is secured to the collar
of the bolster-carrier.
The bolster-carrier made in this way may be inserted in a notch in the spindle-
rail, after the nut and reservoir have been secured upon such holster-carrier, and
the bolster-carrier is fixed to the rail by tightening up the nut.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, in all the figures of which the same letters of
reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a self-contained spindle constructed
according to my invention and also through the spindle-rail in which such spindle
is mounted, the spindle and retaining hook employed to prevent the spindle from
being accidentally displaced being shown in side elevation so that the figure may
be clearer,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the holster employed in the self-contained spindle
illustrated in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the said bolster
taken on the plane indicated by the line (A) (A) of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a plan of the
said bolster and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of such bolster taken on the plane
indicated by the line (B) (B) of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the holster-carrier employed in the self-contained
spindle illustrated in Figs. 1 and Fig. 7 is a plan of such bolster-carrier.
Fig. 8 is a plan and Fig. 9 a vertical section of the oil-reservoir employed in the
self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 1, the line (C) (C) of Fig. 8 indicating
the plane upon which the vertical section Fig. 9 is taken.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation and Fig. 11 is a plan of a cover or lid which may be
employed to exclude dust and dirt from the oil-reservoir employed in the self-
contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 12 is a plan of the retaining hook employed in the self-contained spindle
illustrated in Fig. 1, and the collar in which such retaining hook is secured, and
Fig. 13 is a side elevation of such retaining hook showing the said collar in vertical
section.
In carrying out my invention as exemplified in the construction of the self-
contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 1, I form the bolster-carrier (a) of steel or
other suitable material and bore or turn it out so as to form it with an internal
collar which is afterwards partially cut away so as to leave an interrupted collar,
the parts of which together form a lock and support for the bolster as is clearly
indicated in. Figs. 1, 6 and 7 in which (a¹) (a) constitute the interrupted collar
i.e. the parts of the internal collar which have not been cut away. The bolster (b) to
receive the spindle is preferably cylindrical and parallel and is cut away, or
flattened on both sides for a portion of its length, these flattened portions (6)
which are clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 fitting between and against the
shoulders or keys formed by the remaining parts (a) of the internal collar of the
holster-carrier (a). The bolster (b) when placed in the bolster-carrier (a) will
thus be held against being turned with the spindle (c) and will be supported by
the shoulders (6) resting upon the parts (a) of the bolster-carrier (a) and no
difficulty will be experienced as has prior to my invention often been the case in
inserting the bolster in the bolster-carrier. In the bolster (b) there are formed
holes (2) which with the cavity formed in such bolster (6) and the spaces between
the sides of such bolster (b) and the interior surface of the bolster-carrier (a)
serve for the passage of oil to and from the bearings for the spindle (c) which are
formed in the bolster (b).
A collar (a 3) is formed on the bolster-carrier (a) illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 7
and upon such bolster-carrier (a) and above the collar (a 3) there is formed a
screw-thread (a 4) upon which a nut (d) is screwed after the upper part of the
bolster-carrier (a) has been passed through the spindle-rail (e) from its lower side,
so as to secure the bolster-carrier (a) to the spindle-rail (e). A part (a 5) of the
bolster-carrier (a) which projects below the collar (a 3) is formed slightly taper to
receive a reservoir (f) for oil which is shown detached in Figs. 8 and 9 and is
forced tightly upon the taper part (a 5) of the bolster-carrier (a) so as to be
secured thereto in a reliable and substantial manner, and so as to make an oil-tight
joint therewith. The portion (2) of the reservoir below the bottom of the bolster
forins a chamber into which dirt may sink and remain undisturbed. The portiou (f')
of the said reservoir is prolonged upwards in front of the spindle-rail (e) so as to
form a kind of funnel which passing clear of the spindle-rail (e) and clear of the

page_text: part of the bolster-carrier (a) which passes through the spindle-rail, may extend
above the level of the spindle-rail (e), and so when filled with oil, secure a head of
oil sufficient to enable the oil to rise freely to the upper bearing (53) of the
spindle (c) in the bolster (b) without any special oil lifting device. The top of the
funnel (¹) is preferably covered by a lid or any other suitable kind of cover t
keep dust and dirt out of the reservoir. When the lid or cover is lifted up or
removed the tube of a syringe or pump can be passed down the funnel (¹) into.
the lowest part (2) of the reservoir where the dirty oil collects so that it can be
removed, pumped or drawn out, the lowest portion of the oil being thus removed
without the whole of the oil being removed from the reservoir, and without the
spindle () being removed from the bolster-carrier (a). In fact the operation can
be performed whilst the spindle is running without stopping the machine..
In Figs. 10 and 11 there is shown a form of lid or cover (9) made out of sheet
metal and provided with ears (g) in the outer side of each of which by means of
a punch or suitable nippers there is formed an indentation (g 2) the formation of
which causes a projection (93) to be formed on the inner side of each ear (g²) so-
that the projections (93) so formed being caused to enter a hole or holes formed
in the side of the funnel (f¹) of the oil-reservoir (f) will serve as a kind of hinge-
to secure the lid or cover (g) to the said reservoir. (f).
A collar (h) is placed between the nut (d) on the bolster-carrier (a) and the top.
of the spindle-rail (e) and secured in position by the screwing down of the nut (d).
To this collar (h) is secured a retaining or holding down hook (i) for preventing
the spindle (c) from being lifted out of the bolster-carrier (a). The retaining
hook (i) which I prefer to use is shown separately in Figs. 12 and 13 and consists.
of a piece of wire formed with a loop (1) which extends sideways from the vertical
part (2) of the hook (i) which loop (1) is twisted so as to form a handle by means
of which the hook (i) can be turned so as to liberate or secure the spindle (c)..
The hook (i) is screwed into the collar (h). This particular form of retaining
hook is cheap and efficient and I make a separate claim thereto at the end of this
Specification, although the particular construction of hook employed is not essential
to the other purposes of my invention.
On lifting the lid (9) of the funnel (ƒ³) or removing the cover which may be
used instead of the lid (g) the attendant can ascertain whether the oil in the
reservoir (f) requires renewing and oil can be supplied or the dirty oil may be
removed whilst the machine is at work.
In the arrangement of self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 1 the reservoir (ƒ).
is shown as being formed separate from the bolster-carrier (a).
Fig. 14 is a vertical section through another self-contained spindle constructed
according to my invention and also through the spindle-rail in which such spindle
is mounted, the spindle and the retaining hook employed to prevent the spindle
from being accidentally displaced being shown in side elevation so that the figure
may be clearer and Fig. 15 is a vertical section through the bolster-carrier-
employed in the self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 14. In the self-contained
spindle illustrated in Fig. 14 the reservoir (f) is cast in one piece with or formed
out of the same piece of metal as the bolster-carrier (a). The cover or lid to be.
applied to the funnel (¹) of the self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 14 may
be similar to the lid or cover (9) hereinbefore described or of any other suitable
kind.
:
Fig. 16 is a vertical section through another self-contained spindle constructed
according to my invention and also through the spindle-rail in which such spindle
is mounted, the spindle and retaining hook employed to prevent the spindle from
being accidentally displaced being shown in side elevation in order that the figure
may be clearer, and Fig. 17 is a vertical section through the bolster-carrier
employed in the self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 16. In the self-contained
spindle illustrated in Fig. 16 the reservoir (f) is formed in one piece with or out
of the same piece of metal as the bolster-carrier (a) by the boring or turning out
of the bolster-carrier (a) and the boring or drilling of a funnel (f') to communicate

page_text: •
with the lowest part (2) of the cavity in the bolster-carrier (a), a plug (j) being
inserted into the bolster-carrier (a) so as to close the bottom of the cavity therein.
The cover or lid to be applied to the funnel (¹) of the self-contained spindle
illustrated in Fig. 16 may be similar to the cover or lid (g) hereinbefore described
or of, any other suitable kind.
Fig. 18 is a vertical section through another self-contained spindle constructed
according to my invention and also through the spindle-rail in which such spindle
is mounted, the spindle and the retaining hook employed to prevent the spindle
from being accidentally displaced being shown in side elevation so that the figure
may be clearer.
Fig. 19 is a plan of the bolster-carrier and retaining hook employed in the self-
contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 18, and Fig. 20 is a vertical section through
such bolster-carrier, taken on the plane indicated by the line (D) (D) of Fig. 19,
the retaining hook being shown in side elevation in order that the figure may be
clearer.
Fig. 21 is a plan and Fig. 22 a vertical section of the oil-reservoir employed in
the self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 18, the line (C) (C) of Fig. 21
indicating the plane upon which the vertical section Fig. 22 is taken.
Fig. 23 is a plan and Fig. 24 is a transverse vertical section drawn to a reduced
scale, of a notched spindle-rail which may be employed in conjunction with the
self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 18, the line (E) (E) of Fig. 23 indicating
the plane on which the section Fig. 24 is taken.
The bolster-carrier (a) illustrated in Figs. 18, 19 and 20 is formed in such a
manner that the collar (a 3) formed upon it may rest upon the top of the spindle-
rail (e). Upon a part of the bolster-carrier (a) illustrated in Figs. 18, 19 and 20
which is below the collar (a 3) there is formed a screw-thread (a 4) upon which
a nut (d) is screwed after the lower part of the bolster-carrier (a) has been put
through the spindle-rail (e) from its upper side, so that such nut (d) will secure
the bolster-carrier (a) to the spindle-rail (e). The part (a 5) of the bolster-
carrier (a) below the thread (a 4) is formed slightly taper to receive and make an
oil-tight joint with the oil-reservoir (f) shown in Figs. 21 and 22 and substantially
similar to that hereinbefore described in reference to Figs. 1, 8 and 9. In this
arrangement the retaining hook (i) is secured to the collar (a3) of the bolster-
carrier (a). The bolster-carrier (a) made in this way may be inserted in a notch
in the spindle-rail (e) such as is illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24 after the nut (d)
and reservoir (f) have been secured upon such bolster-carrier (a) and the
bolster-carrier (a) may then be fixed to the spindle-rail (e) by tightening up the
nut (d).
In other respects than those hereinbefore described the self-contained spindles
illustrated in Figs. 14, 16 and 18 are similar to the self-contained spindle illustrated
in Fig. 1 and as I have in the several figures illustrating the parts employed in the
self-contained spindles illustrated in Figs. 14, 16 and 18 applied to the parts shown,
the same letters of reference as are applied to the corresponding parts employed
in the self-contained spindle illustrated in Fig. 1, 1 shall make no further separate
reference to the self-contained spindles illustrated in Figs. 14, 16 and 18 or the
parts employed therein.
The bolster-carriers (a) and bolsters (b) made according to my invention are
simple in form and therefore comparatively easy to make with any degree of
accuracy which may be desirable and the bolsters (b) being supported by their
upper ends and capable of being easily placed in position in the bolster-carriers (a)
in consequence of their upper parts projecting from such bolster-carriers (a) until
the lower parts of such bolsters have been inserted in proper position into the locks
or supports provided in the bolster-carriers (a).
The retaining or holding down hooks (1) made according to my invention are
simple and cheap to construct and stiff, strong and reliable in use since the twisting
of the loops (¹) of such retaining hooks (1) enables the portions of wire forming
the sides of the loop (2) of each of such hooks (i) to bear against and support each

page_text: other and aid each other in resisting or transmitting any force which may be
applied to the retaining hook in order to turn it into or out of position to retain
the spindle with which it is used in the bolster used therewith.
By the use of the oil-reservoirs arranged in accordance with my invention the
oiling and investigation of the condition of the oil in use and the removal of dirty
oil can be readily accomplished without the spindles being removed from the
bolsters in which they are mounted and such oil-reservoirs render unnecessary all
loose oil receptacles or other similar devices such as have prior to my invention
been sometimes employed to contain oil in self-contained spindles. Furthermore
the oil-reservoirs (f) provided in accordance with my invention by being provided
with the funnels (1) extending in front of the spindle-rails in which the self-
contained spindles provided with such oil-reservoirs () may be mounted render
it unnecessary for the syringes or pumps used for the removal of dirty oil therefrom
to pass through the parts of the bolster-carriers which are enclosed by or pass
through the spindle-rails. By rendering it unnecessary for the syringes or pumps
used for the removal of dirty oil from such oil-reservoirs to pass through the parts
of the bolster-carriers which are enclosed by or pass through the spindle-rails, the
oil-reservoirs provided in accordance with my invention enable the bolster-carriers
to which they are applied to be made small in diameter at the parts which are
enclosed by or pass through the spindle-rails in which they are to be mounted and
so enable the spindle-rails to be formed with correspondingly small openings to
receive such bolster-carriers.
The application of my invention to self-contained spindles thus results in securing
simplicity and greatly facilitates accurate construction and also enables the bearings
of the spindles to be efficiently and readily oiled.
It is obvious that so long as bolster-carriers provided with the locks or supports
such as are herein before described are employed to support the bolsters (6) and
prevent them from turning, the bolsters (6) made according to my invention as
hereinbefore described may be mounted in bolster-carriers other than those herein-
before described with much of the advantage of simplicity of form and construction
and ease of placing in position in the bolster-carriers in which they are to be mounted
which results from their employment in the manner hereinbefore described.
Oil-reservoirs made according to my invention and in the manner hereinbefore
described may be employed in combination with bolster-carriers differing from
those herein before described in the mode of supporting and locking the bolster,
which mode is not essential to my invention as claimed in the first six claiming
clauses of this Specification as the advantages of these combinations can be obtained
with other modes of supporting and locking. It is also obvious that so long as the
oil-reservoirs constructed according to my invention are secured to the bolster-
carriers in conjunction with which they are employed in a reliable, firm and
substantial manner and so as make oil-tight joints therewith in order to permit of a
head of oil sufficient to allow the oil to rise freely to the upper parts of the
bearings they may be secured thereto in other modes than are herein before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improved arrangement of self-contained spindle hereinbefore described
in which a bolster-carrier passing through the rail is furnished with an oil-reservoir
which reaches below the bottom of the bolster so as to form a receptacle for
retaining dirt, and which is prolonged below and in front of the rail and arranged
in such a manner as to allow the tube of a pump to reach to the bottom of the
reservoir in order to remove the lowest portion of the oil substantially as
described.
2. A combined bolster-carrier and oil-reservoir constructed and arranged with

page_text: reference to the purposes herein before set forth substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 15 and 17.
3. A combined bolster-carrier and oil-reservoir constructed and arranged with
reference to the purposes herein before set forth substantially as described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 18.
4. The improved arrangement of self-contained spindle constructed substantially
as herein before described with reference to Fig. 1.
5. The improved arrangement of self-contained spindle constructed substantially
as herein before described with reference to Figs. 14 and 16.
6. The improved arrangement of self-contained spindle constructed substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 18.
7. A round bolster formed with flattened portions, so that shoulders are left, in
combination with a bolster-carrier having an internal interrupted collar substantially
as hereinbefore described.
8. The retaining or holding down hook (1) fashioned from wire in the manner
herein before described and illustrated.
Dated this Twenty-first day of May 1896.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.