Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Winding Yarns or Threads.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Winding Yarns
or Threads.
We, WILLIAM THOMAS STUBBS and JOSEPH HETHERINGTON STUBBS, both
of Mill Street Works, Ancoats, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
11
Our invention relates to machinery or apparatus for winding yarns or threads.
The first part of our invention relates to machinery or apparatus in which yarns
or threads are wound upon bobbins, spools, or tubes mounted upon vertical spindles
and consists in means whereby we are enabled to increase the speed at which the
spindles of such machines are caused to rotate and to cause such spindles to require
less frequent lubrication than has hitherto been necessary. In applying this part
of our invention to a machine of the kind above mentioned instead of employing
two rails or beams to support each spindle, one of which rails or beams is provided
with the footsteps to receive the spindles while the other is provided with collars
through which the spindles pass, we employ but one rail or beam in which we
mount spindles of the kind ordinarily denominated "Rabbeth spindles," but with
their upper parts made suitable for winding purposes.
The second part of our invention also relates to machinery or apparatus in which
yarns or threads are wound upon bobbins, spools or tubes mounted upon vertical
spindles and consists in arrangements for. imparting the motion to the traverse
rails employed in such machines to guide the yarns or threads ou to the bobbing,
spools or tubes upon which they are to be wound. The arrangements in which
this part of our invention consists are more convenient in use and more readily
arranged to wind yarns or threads on to bobbins, spools or tubes of different lengths
and of different shapes than the arrangements hitherto employed for imparting
motion to the traverse rails of such machinery or apparatus. According to this
part of our invention we provide in each machine to which this part of our invention
is applied a cam or cams mounted upon a suitable shaft and acting in conjunction
with a bowl or bowls mounted upon a rod or frame or rods or frames arranged so
as to be capable of being moved by the cam or cams aforesaid. To the said frame
or rod or each of the said frames or rods is connected a connecting rod which is
also connected to a lever capable of being oscillated about a suitable axis and
provided with suitable racks engaging with suitable toothed wheels or sectors
mounted upon shafts each of which is provided with toothed wheels or sectors
engaging with racks formed on bars connected to one of the traverse rails employed
in the machine or is enabled to communicate motion to the traverse rails in any
other suitable manner. By the cam or cams above mentioned being rotated the
We so
traverse rails will be moved by means of the mechanism above described.
arrange the connecting rod or connecting rods above referred to and the parts to
which it is or they are connected that by changes being made in the position of
either or both ends of the said connecting rod or connecting rods the necessary
variations in the motion and the range of motion of the traverse rails may be
obtained. Instead of the connecting rod or connecting rods above referred to a
rack or racks mounted upon the above mentioned rod or frame or rods or frames
and engaging with a rack or racks mounted upon the lever or levers above referred
to may be employed.
Although we have above described this part of our invention as applied to a
machine in which a traverse rail is employed at each side of the machine it is
obvious that this part of our invention may also be adapted to a machine in which
there is a traverse rail at one side only.

page_text: The third part of our invention relates to the clearers which in certain machinery
or apparatus for winding yarns or threads are employed for the purpose of removing
thick places and other irregularities from the yarns or threads being wound and
consists in arrangements for preventing unuathorized persons from tampering with
the adjustment of such clearers which are more convenient and less cumbrous than
the arrangements hitherto employed for that purpose.
Hitherto it has been customary for the heads of the set screws by which clearers
are secured in position when adjusted, to be covered by channelled metal plates
which are made in lengths and secured, usually to the front of the rails on which
the clearers are mounted by means of padlocks. When it has been necessary to
adjust the clearers the channelled plates above mentioned have required to be
removed and when removed have been liable to be injured or mislaid or cause
injury to other parts of the machine if laid carelessly thereon and the operation
of adjusting clearers has been caused to occupy more time than is desirable.
According to the third part of our invention we avoid having to remove from the
machine any parts except the padlocks or other devices used to secure the clearers
from being tampered with by unauthorized persons, and thus greatly facilitate
access to the clearers by the proper persons and render access to the clearers by
unauthorized persons more difficult. According to this part of our invention we
cause the head of each of the set screws by which the clearers employed in a
machine for winding yarns or threads are secured in position when adjusted, to
project into or be opposite to a hole in the bar or rail upon which the clearers are
mounted or provided specially in proximity to the bar or rail upon which the
clearers are mounted. In conjunction with the bar or rail in which are formed the
holes opposite to which are the heads of the set screws above mentioned we provide
a bar or plate capable of being slidden upon or in proximity to the said bar or rail
and provided with holes which when the said bar or plate is in one position will be
opposite to the holes aforesaid so that access may be had through the holes in the
Far or plate and bar or rail to the set screws so that the clearers may be adjusted
and secured. The bar or plate aforesaid is so formed that when in another position
it will cover all the holes in the bar or rail above mentioned. In order that the
Faid bar or plate may both be readily moved and be readily secured in position to
prevent access to the set screws of the clearers we mount upon any suitable part a
lever connected to or engaging in any suitable manner with such bar or plate, by
means of which lever the bar or plate may be moved. The said lever is arranged
so that it may be secured in one position by means of a padlock or other suitable
means thus preventing access to the set screws of the clearers.
It will be obvious
that the lever above mentioned may in some cases be omitted and the bar or plate
aforesaid may in such cases be moved and secured in position in any manner which
may be desirable.
Dated this Seventeenth day of Mav 1892
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Winding Yarns
or Threads.
4
We, WILLIAM THOMAS STUBBS and JOSEPH HETHERINGTON STUBBS, both
of Mill Street Works, Ancoats Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Makers 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 5
the following statement:-
Our invention relates to machinery or apparatus for winding yarns or threads.
The first part of our invention relates to machinery or apparatus in which yarns

page_text: or threads are wound upon bobbins, spools, or tubes mounted upon vertical spindles
and consists in means whereby we are enabled to increase the speed at which the
spindles of such machines are caused to rotate and to cause such spindles to require
less frequent lubrication than has hitherto been necessary. In applying this part of
our invention to a machine of the kind above mentioned instead of employing two
rails or beams to support each spindle, one of which rails or beams is provided with
the footsteps to receive the spindles while the other is provided with collars through
which the spindles pass, we employ but one rail or beam in which we mount spindles
of the kind ordinarily denominated "Rabbeth spindles" but with their upper parts
made suitable for winding purposes.
This part of our invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings,
which is a cross section of a machine for winding yarns or threads on to bobbins,
spools, or tubes mounted upon vertical spindles. As is clearly indicated in Fig. 1
the spindles (a) are of the kind denominated "Rabbeth spindles" but are made suitable
in the upper parts for winding purposes. It is also clearly shown in Fig. 1 that
each of the spindles (a) is mounted upon one beam or rail (6) only instead of being
supported by two rails like the spindles hitherto employed in machinery or apparatus
in which yarns or threads are wound upon bobbins, spools, or tubes mounted upon
vertical spindles. Motion is transmitted to the spindles (a) from drums (c) by
means of bands in the usual manner. By employing Rabbeth spindles mounted in
the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, we are enabled to increase the speed at which the
spindles of machinery or apparatus in which yarns or threads are wound upon
vertical spindles are caused to rotate and to canse such spindles to require less
frequent lubrication than has hitherto been necessary.
The second part of our invention also relates to machinery or apparatus in which
yarns or threads are wound upon bobbins, spools or tubes mounted upon vertical
spindles and consists in arrangements for imparting the motion to the traverse rails
employed in such machines to guide the yarns or threads on to the bobbins spools
or tubes upon which they are to be wound. The arrangements-in which this part of
our invention consists are more convenient in use and more readily arranged to
wind yarns or threads on to bobbins spools or tubes of different lengths and of
different shapes than the arrangements hitherto employed for imparting motion to
the traverse rails of such machinery or apparatus.
According to this part of our invention we provide in each machine to which this
part of our invention is applied a cam or cams mounted upon a suitable shaft and
acting in conjunction with a bowl or bowls mounted upon a rod or frame or rods or
frames arranged so as to be capable of being moved by the cam or cams aforesaid.
For convenience of description we will refer hereinafter to the said rod or frame
or rods or frames as a slide or slides. To the said slide or each of the said slides is
connected a connecting rod which is also connected to a lever capable of being
oscillated about a suitable axis and provided with suitable racks engaging with
suitable toothed wheels or sectors mounted upon shafts each of which is provided
with toothed wheels or sectors engaging with racks formed on bars connected to one
of the traverse rails employed in the machine or is enabled to communicate motion
to the traverse rails in any other suitable manner. By the cam or cams above
mentioned being rotated the traverse rails will be moved by means of the mechanism
above described. We so arrange the connecting rod or connecting rods above
referred to and the parts to which it is or they are connected that by changes being
made in the position of either or both ends of the said connecting rod or connecting
rods the necessary variations in the motion and the range of motion of the traverse
rails may be obtained. Instead of the connecting rod or connecting rods above
referred to a rack or racks mounted upon the above mentioned slide or slides and
engaging with a curved rack or sector or curved racks or sectors mounted upon the
lever or levers above referred to may be employed.
One method of carrying this part of our invention into effect is illustrated in
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. (d) is a cam mounted upon a shaft (e) which
is mounted in suitable bearings formed in brackets (f) (g) secured to the end

page_text: frame (h) of the machine. By means of a collar (e¹) secured upon it the shaft (e)
is prevented from being moved longitudinally and such shaft (e) has mounted fast
upon it a worm wheel (i) which receives rotary motion by means of a worm (j)
mounted fast upon the axle (c) of one of the drums (c) by means of which rotary
motion is imparted to the spindles (a) of the machine. (k) (k) are bowls mounted
upon studs secured in a slide (m) which is mounted in brackets (n) (o) secured to the
end frame (h) of the machine and is capable of being moved upwards and down-
wards by the action of the cam (d).
In the slide (m) is formed a part (m') provided with a slot (m²) in any required
position in which may be secured a stud (p) upon which is mounted one end of a
connecting rod (9) the other end of which is mounted upon a stud (r) which is
capable of being secured in any required position in a slot (1) formed in a lever (s)
which is mounted and capable of being oscillated upon a stud (t) secured in the end
frame (h) of the machine. The lever (s) is provided at each end with a curved
rack (2). The teeth of the curved racks (82) at the ends of the lever (s) gear into
or engage with the teeth of pinions (u). The pinions (u) are mounted fast upon
shafts (v) mounted in suitable bearings and extending lengthwise of the machine.
The teeth of the pinions (u) and the teeth of other pinions of which there may
be any number mounted fast upon the shafts (o) gear into or engage with the teeth
of a corresponding number of racks (w') formed on bars (w) of which two only are
shown in Fig. 1 which are capable of being moved upwards and downwards in
suitable guides which are not shown in Fig. 1. The bars (w) are connected to the
traverse rails (c) of the machine on which traverse rails (a) are mounted the
clearers (y) and yarns guides (2) through which the yarns or threads to be wound
upon the bobbins or spools mounted upon the spindles (a) are caused to pass.
In order that the slide (m) may be kept in the required position relative to the
cam (d) and the lever (s) while such slide (m) is being moved upward and downward
a projecting bearing surface (m³) formed in a vertical plane is formed upon the
slide (m) and upon the bracket (f) is mounted a plate (2) which is formed with a
bearing surface formed in a vertical plane and is provided with ears or projecting
parts (2) to embrace the bracket (f). By means of set screws, or other means of
adjustment the plate (2) is caused to bear to any required extent against the
bearing surface (m³) formed upon the slide (m) and thus the slide (m) is kept in
proper position relative to the cam (d) and the lever (s) while being moved upward
and downward.
As the axle (c) upon which the worm (j) is mounted revolves the worm
wheel (), shaft (e) and cam (d) will be rotated and by the cam (d) acting by means
of the bowls (k) upon the slide (m) such slide (m) will be raised and lowered and
will by means of the connecting rod (7) cause the lever (s) to be oscillated to and
fro upon the stud (t). The racks (83) (2) upon the ends of the lever (s) acting by
means of the pinions (u) and the other pinions mounted upon the shaft (v) upon
the racks (w) will cause the traverse rails (x) (x) to be raised and lowered and
cause the yarns or threads being wound to be guided in the required manner on to
the bobbins or spools upon which they are to be wound.
According as the stud (r) upon which the lower end of the connecting rod (9)
is mounted is placed nearer to or farther from the stud (t) the angular motion
imparted to the lever (s) and consequently the upward and downward vertical
movements imparted to the traverse rails (c) which are caused by the upward and
downward movement of the slide (m) which takes place always between the same
limits will be made greater or less and thus the yarns or threads being wound in
the machine may be caused to be distributed over the surfaces of longer or shorter
bobbins, spools or tubes. The stud (p) is capable of being secured in position at
any part of the slot. (m³) formed in the slide (m) while the stud (r) may be allowed
to remain secured in any desired position in the slot (s) and thus while the extent
of the motion imparted to the traverse rails (a) may be allowed to remain
unchanged the limits within which that motion may be performed may be very
readily varied to some extent as may be necessary in order that yarn or thread may

page_text: be properly wound between the flanges or heads of some kinds of bobbins or spools.
We would point out that an adjustment of the stud (p) to raise or lower the limits
between which the traverse rail (*) at one side of the machine is moved by the
action of the cam (d) will bring about a contrary change in the position of the
limits between which the upward and downward movements of the traverse rail (x)
at the other side of the machine are performed.
Although we prefer to connect the slide (m) to the lever (s) by means of a
connecting rod (9) in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 we may substitute for the
connecting rod (4) a rack gearing into a curved rack or sector capable of being
secured upon the lever (s) in various positions relative to the stud (t) so that the
necessary variations in the extent of the upward and downward movements of the
traverse rails (a) of the machine may be effected. The curved rack or sector
secured to the lever (s) in order to engage with or gear with the rack substituted
for the connecting rod (g) must be made of a pitch and curvature which will enable
it in whatever position it may be placed when in use to gear into or engage with
the rack substituted for the connecting rod (y). It is obvious that so long so the
movement imparted to the traverse rails (a) be an upward and downward movement'
the slide (m) may be caused to move in any direction which may be convenient and
in cases in which the slide (m) is required to move in a direction which is not
vertical a corresponding change must be made in the position of the slot (s) or
part of the lever (s) to which the connecting rod (9) or the rack substituted
therefor is connected.
Although we have in Fig. 1 shown one cam (d) one slide (m) and one
lever (s) it is obvious that two or more cams (d) and two or more slides (m)
and two or more levers (s) may be employed in a machine. When two or
more cams (d), two or more slides (m) and two or more levers (s) are employed
two separate pinions each gearing into a rack connected to one of the traverse
rails of the machine may be employed in conjunction with each lever (s) and
such pinions may be mounted upon separate studs instead of being mounted upon
shafts extending lengthwise of the machine.
It is also obvious that any other suitable means may be employed instead of the
curved racks (3), pinions ("), pinions mounted on the shafts (v) and the
racks (w) to connect the levers when two or more are employed to the traverse
rails of the machine, for instance, curved racks formed upon the levers (s) might
be caused to gear into or engage with racks (w¹) connected to the traverse rails (a)
of the machine, or the levers () when two or more are employed may be connected
to the traverse rails (c) of the machine by connecting rods. Although we have
in Fig. 1 shown a cam (d) receiving motion by means of a worm (5) and worm
wheel (i) and acting upon bowls (k) as employed to impart the necessary movement
to the slide (m) it is obvious that the slide (m) may be moved by any mechanism
which may be suitable for the purpose.
The arrangements above described in reference to this part of our invention
are applicable to all kinds of machinery or apparatus for winding yarns or threads
upon bobbins, spools or tubes mounted upon vertical spindles and are more con-
venient in use and more readily arranged or adjusted to wind yarns or threads
on to bobbins, spools, or tubes of different lengths and of different shapes than the
arrangements hitherto employed for imparting motion to the traverse rails of such
machinery or apparatus.
Although we have above described this part of our invention as applied to a
machine in which a traverse rail is employed at each side of the machine it is obvious
that this part of our invention may also be adapted to a machine in which there is
a traverse rail at one side only.
The third part of our invention relates to the clearers which in certain machinery
or apparatus for winding yarns or threads are employed for the purpose of removing
thick places and other irregularities from the yarns or threads being wound and
consists in arrangements for preventing unauthorized persons from tampering with

page_text: the adjustment of such clearers which are more convenient and less cumbrous than
the arrangements hitherto employed for that purpose.
Hitherto it has been customary for the heads of the set-screws by which clearers
are secured in position when adjusted to be covered by channelled metal plates,
which are made in lengths and secured usually to the front of the rails on which
the clearers are mounted by means of padlocks. When it has been necessary to
adjust the clearers the channelled plates above mentioned have required to be
removed and when removed have been liable to be injured or mislaid or cause
injury to other parts of the machine if laid carelessly thereon and the operation
of adjusting clearers has been caused to occupy more time than is desirable.
According to the third part of our invention we avoid having to remove from the
machine any parts except the padlocks or other devices used to secure the clearers
from being tampered with by unauthorized persons, and thus greatly facilitate
access to the clearers by the proper persons and render access to the clearers by
unauthorized persons more difficult. According to this part of our invention we
cause the head of each of the set screws by which the clearers employed in a
machine for winding yarns or threads are secured in position when adjusted, to
project into or be opposite to a hole in the bar or rail upon which the clearers are
mounted or in a bar or rail provided specially, in proximity to the bar or rail upon
which the clearers are mounted. In conjunction with the bar or rail in which are
formed the holes opposite to which are the heads of the set screws above mentioned
we provide a bar or plate capable of being slidden upon or in proximity to the
said bar or rail and provided with holes which when the said bar or plate is in one
position will be opposite to the holes aforesaid so that access may be had through
the holes in the bar or plate and bar or rail to the set screws so that the clearers
may be adjusted and secured. The bar or plate aforesaid is so formed that when
in another position it will cover all the holes in the bar or rail above mentioned.
In order that the said bar or plate may both be readily moved and be readily
secured in position to prevent access to the set screws of the clearers we mount
upon any suitable part a lever connected to or engaging in any suitable manner
with such bar or plate by means of which lever the bar or plate may be moved.
The said lever is arranged so that it may be secured in one position by means
of a padlock or other suitable means thus preventing access to the set screws of
the clearers.
This part of our invention is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying
drawings Fig. 2 being a front elevation, Fig. 3 a plan and Fig. 4 a transverse
section of some clearers having this part of our invention applied thereto. (3) are
the clearers and (4) are the set screws by which the clearers (3) are secured in
position when the parts (3) of such clearers (3) have been adjusted in position in
relation to the parts (3b) thereof. The head of each of the set screws (4) is caused
to be opposite to a hole (5) formed in a bar or rail (6) upon which the clearers (3)
are mounted. (8) is a bar or plate which is capable of being slidden in contact
with the bar or rail (6) and is supported and secured to the bar or rail (6) by
means of the metal clips (9) of which one only is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4,
forming parts of the plate (9) in which are inserted the yarn or thread guides (10)
and extending downwards and secured to the bar or rail (6) by means of screws (9°).
(11) is a stud secured in the bar or plate (8). (12) is a lever which is provided with
a stud (123) which is supported by a bracket (13) secured to the bar or rail (6)
and is secured in such bracket (13) by means of a pin (12b). One arm of the
lever (12) projects to form a handle and the said arm (12°) of the lever (12) is
formed with a projecting loop (124) which may be passed on to a staple (14) secured
in the bar or rail (6). The other arm of the lever (12) is provided with jaws (12)
which embrace the stud (11) secured in the bar or plate (8). By the lever (12)
being turned in the direction indicated by the arrow (A) for a certain distance
the bar or plate (8) will be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow (B) for a
corresponding distance and when the lever (12) is turned back to the position in

page_text: which it is indicated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the bar or plate (8) will be moved back
in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (B) to the position in which
it is indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. A stop of any suitable kind is provided to
limit the movement of the bar or plate (8) in the direction indicated by the
arrow (B). The movement of the bar or plate (8) in the direction opposite to
that indicated by the arrow (B) is limited by the lever (12) arriving in the
position in which it is indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Holes (8") are formed in
the bar or plate (8) in such positions that when by the lever (12) being turned in
the direction indicated by the arrow (A) the bar or plate (8) is moved in the
direction indicated by the arrow (B) as far as is permitted by the stops by which
the movement of the plate or bar (8) in such direction indicated by the arrow (B) is
limited such holes (8") will be opposite to the holes (5) formed in the bar or rail (6)
so that a key or screw-driver may be applied to the set screws (4) in order that they
may be turned to release or secure the clearers (3) before or after they have been
adjusted into the required positions. When the lever (12) is turned in the direction
opposite to that indicated by the arrow (A) into the position in which it is indicated
in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the holes (8") which are indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 2
and 3 and by the more lightly shaded part of the bar or plate (8) in Fig. 4 will
be moved into a position in which they will not be opposite to the holes (5) formed
in the bar or rail (6). The lever (12) and bar or plate (8) may be secured in the
position in which they are indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 by a padlock (15) the
hasp of which is passed through the staple (14) after the lever (12) has been
turned into the position in which it is indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When the
lever (12) and bar or plate (8) have been secured by the padlock (15) in the
position in which they are indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the holes (8*) in the plate
or bar (8) not being opposite to the holes (5) in the bar or rail (6) it is not possible
for any access to the heads of the set-screws (4) to be had and it is therefore
impossible for any person not possessed of a key by which the padlock (15) may
be unlocked to obtain any access to the heads of the set screws (4) and thus
unauthorized persons are prevented from tampering with the clearers (3). When
access to the heads of the set-screws (4) is to be had by an authorized person it is
only necessary for the padlock (15) to be removed from the staple (14) and for the
lever (12) to be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow (A).
It is obvious that instead of the padlock (15) any other device suitable for the
purpose may be employed to secure the bar or plate (8) in the position in which it
is indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.
It will be obvious that the lever (12) above mentioned may in some cases be
omitted and the bar or plate (8) aforesaid may in such cases be moved and secured
in position in any manner which may be desirable.
By means of this part of my invention we avoid having to remove from the
machine any parts except the padlocks or other devices used to secure the clearers
from being tampered with by unauthorized persons and thus greatly facilitate the
access to the clearers by the proper persons and render the access of unauthorized
persons to the means by which the clearers are secured in position when adjusted
more difficult than it has hitherto been.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a machine or apparatus for winding yarns or threads on to bobbins, spools
or tubes mounted upon vertical spindles the hereinbefore described arrangements
for imparting motion to the traverse rails employed in such machinery or apparatus
which arrangements consist in a slide or slides such as (m) moved by means of a
cam or cams and a lever or levers such as (s) connected to or receiving motion from
the said slide or slides (m) by a connecting rod or rack or connecting rods or racks
substantially in the manner herein before described in reference to and indicated in
and by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. For use in conjunction with clearers such as are employed in certain machinery
or apparatus for winding yarns or threads the herein before described arrangements
for preventing unauthorized persons from tampering with the adjustment of such
clearers which arrangements consist in a bar or plate (8) provided with holes (8)
and arranged to be moved in one direction so as to bring the holes (8") with which
it is provided opposite to holes opposite to which are the heads of set screws by
which the clearers are secured when adjusted and in the opposite direction so as to
cover and prevent access from being obtained to the holes opposite to which are
the said set screws for the purposes and substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described and illustrated in and by Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Eighteenth day of February 1893.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.