DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a body for a vehicle, such as a rail vehicle.
The invention also relates to a vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, comprising such a body.
The invention applies to the transportation field, in particular railway transportation.
Vehicles, such as rail vehicles, generally include a body allowing the transport, for example, of passengers. Such a body is often made up of an outer wall in direct contact with the outside atmosphere, and an inner wall delimiting the inner volume of the vehicle. The space between these two walls in particular allows heat conduction to be limited between the inside of the body and the outside.
Furthermore, such a body includes support elements between the two walls, allowing the inner wall to be fastened on the outer wall facing one another. These support elements are generally made from aluminum. In order for the support elements to keep the walls as stable as possible, it is necessary for the support elements to have a significant contact surface with the walls, and solid fastening means.
One existing problem is then that the heat conduction is significant at the support elements, which means decreased thermal insulation of the body. Furthermore, the greater the contact surface is between the support elements and the walls, the greater the heat conduction is through the support element, between the inside and the outside of the body.
In order to improve the insulation of the body, it is possible to add a heat shim made from an insulating material between one of the walls and a support element, at a contact surface.
However, using a heat shim involves an increased manufacturing cost and assembly time.
One aim of the invention is to propose a body for a vehicle allowing the heat conduction to be limited between the inside and the outside of the body, with a reduced manufacturing cost and assembly time.

To this end, the invention relates to a body for a vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, comprising:
- an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer and inner walls being arranged facing one another,
- at least one support element made from a thermally insulating material between the inner wall and the outer wall, the at least one support element including a first contact surface, preferably flat, with the outer wall,
- first fastening means for fastening the at least one support element with the outer wall, at the first surface, and
- second fastening means for fastening the at least one support element with the inner wall.
Such a body makes it possible to limit the heat conduction between the inside and the outside of the body, by using at least one support element made from a thermally insulating material. Furthermore, the cost of manufacturing such a support element is reduced relative to a body with support elements made from aluminum and a heat shim. Lastly, the support element has a single part, which facilitates the assembly of such a support element, and therefore reduces the assembly time.
According to other advantageous aspects, the body includes one or more of the following features, according to all technically possible combinations:
- at least one support element is made from plastic material, such as polyamide 6.6;
- at least one support element is made from molded plastic material;
- the first fastening means comprise at least one C-shaped rail and at least one screw;
- the body further comprises a fastening shim perpendicular to the inner wall and secured to the inner wall, the second fastening means being able to fasten the at least one support element to the fastening shim; and
- at least one support element comprises a second contact surface with the fastening shim, the second surface being perpendicular to the first surface, the second fastening means being able to fasten the at least one support element to the fastening shim, at the second surface.

The invention also relates to a vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, comprising a body as previously described.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided solely as a non-limiting example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- [Fig. 1] figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a cross-section of a ceiling of a body according to the invention, in particular comprising two support elements, and
- [Fig. 2] figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a support element of figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a body 10 of a vehicle. More specifically, it shows an upper part of the body 10, in particular a ceiling of the body 10.
The vehicle is for example a rail vehicle.
The body 10 comprises an outer wall 20 and an inner wall 22, the outer 20 and inner 22 walls being arranged facing one another.
The outer 20 and inner 22 walls extend over the entire length of the body 10.
The body 10 comprises a floor, a roof and lateral partitions. The roof and the partitions are in particular formed by outer 20 and inner 22 walls.
For example, at the roof or a partition of the body 10, the outer 20 and inner 22 walls are substantially parallel.
The body 10 further comprises at least one support element 26 between the outer wall 20 and the inner wall 22, first fastening means 30 of the at least one support element 26 with the outer wall 20, and second fastening means 32 of the at least one support element 26 with the inner wall 22.
As an example, figure 1 shows two support elements 26 of the body 10 at the roof of the body 10.
In addition or in a variant that is not shown, the body 10 comprises support elements 26 between the outer wall 20 and the inner wall 22 at another part of the body 10, for example at a lateral partition of the body 10.

According to the example of figure 1, the body 10 further comprises a fastening shim 38 perpendicular to the inner wall 22 and secured to the inner wall 22.
The outer wall 20 for example defines the outer surface of the body 10. It is in contact with the outside atmosphere.
The inner wall 22 for example corresponds to inner trim of the body 10. It delimits the inner volume of the body 10.
An insulating zone is located between the outer 20 and inner 22 walls. It for example comprises a thermally insulating material.
Figure 2 shows a support element 26, like those of figure 1.
The support element 26 includes a first flat contact surface 40 with the outer wall 20.
The support element 26 is made from a thermally insulating material.
According to the example of figure 2, the support element 26 further comprises a second flat contact surface 42 with the fastening shim 38.
According to the example of figure 2, the second surface 42 is perpendicular to the first surface 40.
The first surface 40 is suitable for being placed in contact with the outer wall 20, the first surface 40 being placed directly against the outer wall 20. The second surface 42 is suitable for being placed in contact with the fastening shim 38, the second surface 42 being placed directly against the fastening shim 38.
According to the example of figure 2, the first surface 40 and the second surface 42, respectively, comprise at least a first fastening orifice 46 suitable for accommodating the first fastening means 30 and, respectively, at least one second fastening orifice 48 suitable for accommodating the second fastening means 32.
For example, the support element 26 is made from a plastic material, such as polyamide 6.6, also called PA6.6. In a variant, the support element 26 is made from another thermally insulating material, such as a composite material or cork.
Preferably, the support element 26 is made from a molded plastic material.

The first fastening means 30 are able to fasten the at least one support element 26 to the outer wall 20, at its first surface 40, more particularly at the first fastening orifice(s) 46 of its first surface 40.
According to the example of figure 1, the first fastening means 30 comprise at least one C-shaped rail 50 and at least one screw 52. For example, the first fastening means 30 comprise, for each fastening orifice 46, one C-shaped rail 50 and one screw 52.
Each C-shaped rail 50 is positioned facing a fastening orifice 46, and each screw 52 is able to be inserted inside a fastening orifice 46 and a C-shaped rail 50.
The second fastening means 32 are able to fasten the at least one support element 26 to the fastening shim 38, at its second surface 42, more particularly at the second fastening orifice(s) 48 of its second surface 42.
The fastening shim 38 is for example kept secured to the inner wall 22 via other fastening means. Alternatively, the fastening shim 38 and the inner wall 38 are welded to one another.
In a variant that is not shown, the body 10 does not comprise a fastening shim 38.
According to this variant, the at least one support element 26 comprises a second flat contact surface for direct contact with the inner wall 22. The first surface 40 and the second surface then face one another.
For example, according to this variant, the first surface 40 and the second surface are substantially parallel.
According to this variant, the second surface is suitable for being placed in contact with the inner wall 22, the second surface being placed directly against the inner wall 22. The second fastening means 32 are then able to fasten the at least one support element 26 to the inner wall 22, at its second surface, more particularly at one or more second fastening orifices of its second surface.
It is then understood that the support element 26 allows the outer 20 and inner 22 walls to be fastened facing one another, while limiting the heat conduction between the outer 20 and inner 22 walls, owing to the use of a thermally insulating material.

Furthermore, the first and second surfaces 40 and 42 allow solid bearing respectively of the inner and outer walls 20 and 22 for the at least one support element 26, and therefore robust fastening.
Furthermore, using a plastic material, such as PA6.6, confers significant strength on the support elements 26. Support elements 26 made with such a material further have the interest of being lighter than conventional aluminum support elements.
Lastly, such support elements 26 make it possible to forgo the use of a heat shim, and therefore enable a reduced manufacturing cost and assembly time.

I/We Claim:
1. A body (10) for a vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, comprising:
- an outer wall (20) and an inner wall (22), the outer (20) and inner (22) walls being arranged facing one another,
- at least one support element (26) made from a thermally insulating material between the inner wall (22) and the outer wall (20), the at least one support element (26) including a first contact surface (40), preferably flat, with the outer wall (20),
- first fastening means (30) for fastening the at least one support element (26) with the outer wall (20), at the first surface (40), and
- second fastening means (32) for fastening the at least one support element (26) with the inner wall (22);
the body (10) further comprising a fastening shim (38) perpendicular to the inner wall (22) and secured to the inner wall (22), the second fastening means (32) being able to fasten the at least one support element (26) to the fastening shim (38),
the at least one support element (26) comprising a second contact surface (42) with the fastening shim (38), the second surface (42) being perpendicular to the first surface (40), the second fastening means (32) being able to fasten the at least one support element (26) to the fastening shim (38), at the second surface (42).
2. The body (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one support element (26) is made from a plastic material.
3. The body (10) according to claim 2, wherein at least one support element (26) is made from a molded plastic material.
4. The body (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first fastening means (30) comprise at least one C-shaped rail (50) and at least one screw (52).

5. A vehicle, such as a rail vehicle, comprising a body (10), wherein the body (10) is according to any one of the preceding claims.