This invention relates to the mounting of a plurality of cabinets in an array. Technical apparatus is often provided in a plurality of identical cabinets, so that it is a relatively simple matter to 5 add further cabinets when the technical apparatus is to be extended. When the cabinets are mounted in an outer enclosure of fixed size, the provision for addition of further cabinets can lead to difficulties, either leaving an empty space in an enclosure in anticipation of an extension, or requiring a new enclosure when the 10 original enclosure is filled. —

The present invention attempts to overcome this problem by providing a plurality of modular cabinets, each modular cabinet comprising a container portion and a support portion fixed to the container portion, the support portions of adjacent cabinets being 15 secured together to locate the cabinets in the assembly. The support portions maybe arranged in one or more sets, the components of a set being secured together in a column. Trø sets are preferably provided, to provide a column on either side of the container portions arranged one above another.

20 An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 a side elevation of an array of cabinets,

Figure 3 is the side elevation of Figure 2 partially broken 25 away to show details of construction, and

Figure 4 is a plan of the hollow body component of the columns shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a pair of columns jr 11, one on either side of a column of spaced containers 12. Each

30 column 11 is mounted on a horizontal member 13 provided with castor wheels 14 at each end. A floor brake 15 is provided on each

horizontal member. Each column 11 is formed from two lower components 16 about 47 centimetres in length. Whether one or two lower components 16 are used in each column 11 depends on the number of modular cabinets required in the initial assembly and the overall height required in the initial assembly. A horizontal rnember 17 secures together the upper end of the upper component of each column and a similar horizontal 18 member secures together the horizontal members 13 at the base of the columns. These members 17 and 18 are optional. he upper end of the column which extends continuously through the rest of the assembly is formed from a plurality of identical hollow body support components 19 each of the same section as the lower components 16, the section being illustrated in detail in Figure 4. This section comprises a general rectangular central portion 21 defining two spaced cylindrical bores 22 symmetrically arranged about the centre line. The hollow body is provided with a number of radially projecting ccπpartments 26 leading off the cylindrical bores 22 to allow the walls 23 of the hollow body to flex when compressed by means of a nut and bolt (not shown) . The nut is restrained from turning by being located in a groove 28 in the outside of the body.

A flange 24 is provided at either end of the rectangular portion 21 and is formed with fixing holes 25 by which the corπponent 19 can be secured to the exterior of a container 12 which is a component separate from a component 19.

Steel tubes or rods 25 can be contained within the cylindrical bores 22 and can be slid within those bores when the walls 23 at the centre line of the body are not compressed. The steel tubes 25 are of the same length as the hollow body and before assembly are secured in position aligned with the hollow body by tightening the nut and bolt through the walls 23 at the centre line. When the components 19 are to be assembled into the column as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bolt is released to allow the tubes 25 to extend by half their length out of one end of the hollow body. The protruding ends of the tubes 25 are inserted into the empty

portions of the adjacent component and the hollow bodies of all the components are compressed to secure the tubes 25 within the hollow bodies to form a rigid column thus securing together adjacent cabinets, each comprising a container 12 and two support components 519. The flanges 24 of each component are secured to the respective container 12 by bolts passing through the fixing holes 25.

The same type of rod or tube 25 is used to secure together the components 16. The lower component 16 is secured to the member 13 by steel rods or tubes and bolts 28.

10 When it is desired to add a further cabinet to the array, a further hollow support 19 is added to each column and its steel tubes are passed into the top of the original top component of each column by releasing the compressing nut and bolt and secured thereto by retightening the nut and bolt. The flanges of the extra hollow body

15 19 are secured to the extra container 12. Any cosmetic covering 27 applied to the top of the original column is removed at the start of the operation and replaced at the top of the extended column.

In one application, the cabinets 12 are intended to contain control apparatus for electrostatic spraying devices. A master cabinet

2012A at the top of the column, which is not identical to the remainder of the cabinets, controls the distribution of air to each of the electrostatic spraying guns and the overall control apparatus for the electrical supplies. A manifold at the back of the master cabinet distributes air under pressure to each of the 5 remaining cabinets in parallel. Electrical supplies are connected to each of the remaining cabinets in series by a series of jumper leads, and if a cabinet is to be removed, the two ends of the jumper leads making the series connection to that cabinet can be themselves joined together to leave the electrical supply to the 0 remaining cabinets unaffected. The air supply to that cabinet must be blanked off when the cabinet is removed, either at the air inlet to that cabinet or at the manifold. The columns 16,19 do not provide any electrical or pneumatic connection between the cabinets

12, 12A. The plurality of identical cabinets are provided one for each electrostatic spraying gun, and its controls are set to operate that gun as required. When further guns are required to be controlled, the column of cabinets 12 is extended as described above, keeping the master cabinet 12A as the top cabinet.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the container 12 extends above the associated support components 19 and the c r artments 19 extend below the associated container 12. Trie components 19 have a greater vertical extent that the container 12, so that adjacent containers 12 are vertically spaced.