Abstract:
A sealing system for an openable panel, an openable panel for a vehicle provided with such a sealing system, and a method for assembling and disassembling the seal of the sealing system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/FR2015/052229 (filed on Aug. 20, 2015), under 35 U.S.C. §371, which claims priority to French Patent Application No. FR 148029 (filed on Aug. 28, 2014), which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their respective entireties. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a sealing system for an openable panel, an openable panel for a vehicle provided with such a sealing system, and a method for assembling and disassembling the seal of the sealing system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A known type of sealing system, in particular for openable panels such as doors of railway vehicles, comprises a rigid profile member, made for example from an aluminum alloy, provided to be fastened onto the contour of the door, which has a recess that receives via an insertion according to an axis, a coupling portion of a seal forming a profile member with a constant section made from elastomer. 
         [0004]    The coupling portion of the seal comprises two outer lateral bosses arranged on each side of the axis of insertion. When it is inserted into the recess of the rigid profile member, the coupling portion is deformed in order to be inserted beyond the anchor shapes carried out on each side of the profile member, which are facing the axis of insertion. Each lateral boss is adjusted in a corresponding hollow of the profile member in order to provide a fastening of the seal. 
         [0005]    The contour of the openable panel can be straight, or comprise a certain curvature, with the rigid profile member as well as the seal then following this curvature. The seal can be made in particular from silicone, EPDM or polychloroprene. 
         [0006]    However a problem that arises, in particular for vehicles receiving the public subjected to high constraints and to frequent stresses, such as railway cars, which can in addition be subjected to malicious acts of vandalism, is that a high resistance to pulling off must be provided. 
         [0007]    This pulling off can comprise a traction according to the axis of insertion at any point of the seal, or the application of a torque for the lateral tipping on this seal. It can also comprise a traction on one end of the seal, which then undergoes a peeling that facilitates the pulling off thereof. 
         [0008]    In order to provide a high resistance of the seal, bosses of this seal and corresponding anchor shapes of the profile member having a rather substantial height must be provided, or substantial rigidity of the elastomer material, which increases the resistance. 
         [0009]    However the force required for the insertion of the coupling portion into the rigid profile member is then increased, which is done in particular by striking thereon with a mallet, which gives rise to problems with assembly time, as well as the tediousness of this operation with the repeated strokes that can result in health problems for the operator, such as tendinitis of the elbow or of the shoulder. 
         [0010]    In addition disassembly in order to perform maintenance operations on the door or in order to replace the seal is also more complicated to carry out, and disassembly time is longer. On railway vehicles subjected to frequent stresses, maintenance can provide in particular to exchange the seals every ten years. 
         [0011]    It is moreover known to use seals assembled by a longitudinal sliding in a complimentary shape of the rigid profile member. However this type of seal is difficult to set in place for profile members of substantial length and when the profile member comprises a rather pronounced curvature, for example on an openable panel having a substantial curvature. 
         [0012]    Another known type of seal, presented in particular by document EP 2 689 949 A1, comprises a sealed inner space wherein a vacuum is applied in order to carry out the tightening thereof which facilitates insertion into the rigid profile member. 
         [0013]    This type of setting in place requires a seal at the ends of the profile member, as well the use of equipment to create the vacuum, which renders the installation and removal operations more complex. 
         [0014]    In order to improve the resistance of the seal, another type of known seal, presented in particular by document WO 2008/155098, comprises towards the front along the direction of insertion two symmetrical lips with respect to the axis of insertion, which are firstly inserted into a hollow of the rigid profile member. 
         [0015]    The seal comprises towards the rear a closed loop forming a flexible tube forming the seal of the openable panel, which has beforehand received inside an expansion element constituted by a profile member comprising a tip directed towards the front. 
         [0016]    After the lips have been placed in the hollow of the rigid profile member, an operator presses along the axis of insertion, on the locking element through the flexible tube in order to slide it between these lips by separating them, and locks the seal by substantially laterally compressing these lips. 
         [0017]    This system has several disadvantages. First of all, a seal must be provided that has already received the expansion element inside the closed loop. Then, the setting in place of the expansion element requires the application of a substantial force, exerted in the form of a constant pressure or striking, in the direction of the hollow of the profile member: the assembly of such a profile member is not easy. And finally, after this assembly, another problem which arises is that the expansion element laterally compressing the two lips with a substantial maintaining, and furthermore no longer being directly accessible, it cannot be disassembled easily. 
         [0018]    This type of seal is provided in particular for a refrigerator door, whereon there is generally no intervention for maintenance. 
         [0019]    This invention in particular has for purpose to avoid these disadvantages of prior art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0020]    This invention proposes for this purpose a sealing system for an openable panel, comprising a rigid profile member having a recess receiving via an insertion along an axis of insertion, a front coupling portion of a seal made of elastomer, with this profile member including side anchor shapes facing the coupling portion, characterized in that the coupling portion comprises an inner space receiving a material forming a locking key provided such as to be inserted longitudinally after the seal has been placed, with this key locking lateral protuberances on the anchor shapes of the profile member. 
         [0021]    An advantage of this sealing system is that the coupling portion of the seal can be very flexible, allowing it to be set into place easily on the rigid profile member with reduced effort. The locking key which is inserted simply via a longitudinal sliding into the inner space, thus providing a firm maintaining of the coupling portion by preventing the deformation thereof, and the exiting of the lateral protuberances outside of the anchor shapes of the profile member allowing for the pulling off of the seal. 
         [0022]    In addition for the disassembly the locking key can slide longitudinally in the reverse direction in order to be extracted, which allows for the deformation of the coupling portion, easily providing for the withdrawal of the seal during maintenance operations. 
         [0023]    The sealing system according to the invention can in addition comprise one or several of the following characteristics, which can be combined together. 
         [0024]    More generally, a first object of the invention is a sealing system for an openable panel comprising a rigid profile member and a seal, said profile member having a recess capable of receiving a coupling portion of said seal, said recess of said profile member including side anchor shapes facing the coupling portion, 
         [0025]    characterized in that:
       said flexible coupling portion of the seal includes side coupling shapes capable of engaging with said side anchor shapes of the profile member,   said coupling portion comprises an inner space located between said side anchor shapes, said inner space receiving a material forming a locking key provided such as to be inserted longitudinally after the seal has been placed in said recess, with this key locking of said side coupling shapes of the coupling portion of the seal on said side anchor shapes of the profile member.       
 
         [0028]    Said seal can be a flexible seal, but at least its coupling portion must have a certain flexibility. 
         [0029]    Said key can be a profile member or a fluid material, preferably a liquid or a granular solid. 
         [0030]    In an embodiment said side coupling shapes of said seal include protuberances and notches. Said side anchor shapes of the profile member are projected into said notches of the coupling portion of the seal and are locked by said protuberances of the coupling portion of the seal, as such preventing the seal from being pulled off. 
         [0031]    The sealing system can comprises bosses located directly on the key and/or opposite this key on the lateral sides of the coupling portion. 
         [0032]    The sealing system according to the invention can comprise a system for the longitudinal fastening of the locking key. 
         [0033]    In an embodiment of the sealing system according to the invention said rigid profile member is sandwiched between substantially parallel sheets, forming an outer and inner skin of said openable panel. Said sheets can be fastened directly onto the lateral faces of the rigid profile member, preferably for example by gluing. Said rigid profile member is advantageously a metal profile member (for example made from an aluminum alloy), which can be manufactured via extrusion. 
         [0034]    Another object of the invention is a seal showing the aforementioned characteristics, able to be used in the sealing system according to the invention as described hereinabove. 
         [0035]    Yet another object of the invention is a method of assembling a sealing system according to the invention, in any of its embodiments, characterized in that it comprises a step of axial insertion of the coupling portion of the seal into the recess of the rigid profile member, then a step of longitudinal insertion of the locking key into the inner space of said coupling portion of the seal. 
         [0036]    Yet another object of the invention is a method for disassembling a sealing system according to the invention, in any of its embodiments, characterized in that it comprises a step of longitudinal withdrawal of the locking key outside of the inner space, in order to make it possible to remove the seal from the rigid profile member. 
         [0037]    Yet another object of this invention is an openable panel of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, comprising a sealing system according to the invention, in any of its embodiments, over all or a portion of its periphery. 
         [0038]    A last object of this invention is a railway vehicle (in particular a car of a train, tramway, subway), a maritime vehicle or a road vehicle, that comprises at least one openable panel according to the invention. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0039]    The invention shall be understood better and other characteristics and advantages shall appear more clearly when reading the description hereinafter provided by way of example, in reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0040]      FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b    are respectively overall and detailed views of the front sealing system of a sliding door of a railway vehicle; 
           [0041]      FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    are respectively overall and detailed views of the rear sealing system of a sliding door of a railway vehicle; 
           [0042]      FIGS. 3 a  through 3 c    are cross-section views of a sealing system according to the invention, having successively three steps of setting the seal in place; 
           [0043]      FIGS. 4 to 14  are cross-section views of sealing systems according to the invention, according to different alternatives; 
           [0044]      FIG. 15  is another overall view of the rear sealing system of a sliding door of a railway vehicle; 
           [0045]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are cross-section views of a sealing system according to the invention, indicating each one of the radial and perpendicular pulling off forces, respectively; and 
           [0046]      FIG. 18  shows a simplified diagrammatical view of a sealing system indicating the pulling off force by peeling. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0047]    The invention relates to a sealing system for an openable panel  1 , that comprises a rigid profile member  2  having a recess capable of receiving a seal  10  that is inserted according to an axis of insertion into a recess  3  of said profile member  2 . Said seal can be mounted on a lateral edge of the openable panel  1 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and/or on another edge, for example upper or lower. The seal  10  according to the invention can be a so-called “front” seal, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or a so-called “rear” seal as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0048]    In reference to  FIG. 1 , an axis A is defined, called the “main” or “longitudinal” axis, an axis B, called “secondary” or “transversal” axis, and a plane P referred to as “main” wherein the axes A and B are included; this main plane is also indicated in  FIG. 3   c.    
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 3 a   , said seal  10  comprises a coupling portion (heel)  11  and a sealing portion  13 . 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 3 b   , said recess  3  can have the form of a groove comprising two typically parallel lateral faces  7 ,  8  and a groove bottom  6 . On each one of said lateral faces  7 ,  8  is arranged a side anchor shape  4 ,  5  which projects inside said recess  3 ; in an embodiment these side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  are protuberances. 
         [0051]    Said rigid profile member  2  can be made from any suitable rigid material, metal (for example aluminum) or composite. It can comprise sheets  9   a,    9   b  forming the inner and outer walls of the openable panel  1 . These sheets  9   a,    9   b  are advantageously substantially parallel. Sais sheets  9   a,    9   b  can be fastened onto the rigid profile member  2  by any suitable technique, for example by welding or screwing, or by gluing. In an advantageous embodiment the sheets  9   a,    9   b  are in planes parallel to those of the lateral faces  29   a,    29   b  of the profile member  2 ; said sheets  9   a,    9   b  can be glued directly onto said lateral faces  29   a,    29   b  of the rigid profile member  2 . 
         [0052]    Said coupling portion (heel)  11  comprises means for fastening  21 ,  22  comprising protuberances or protrusions  21   a,    21   b  and slits or notches  22   a,    22   b  able to engage with said side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  and facing the latter, in order to lock the seal  10  in such a way that it resists pulling off in a direction opposite the depth of said recess  3 . As such the heel  11  of the seal  10  can be nested in the recess  3  of the profile member  2 ; this insertion can be carried out axially by a movement of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  according to a transversal direction, namely according to the axis B of  FIG. 1   a.  During this movement in the direction of the bottom of the groove the heel  11  is deformed elastically in order to allow for the passage of the protuberances  21  of the seal  10  in front of the side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2 , expands when said side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2  are opposite the slits  22   a,    22   b  of the seal  10 , and remain locked. 
         [0053]    Said coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  comprises an inner space (recess)  12  delimited laterally by lateral sides (flanks)  18 ,  19 . The inner space  12  can be closed (typically by a wall  23 ) or open in the direction of the bottom  6  of the groove  3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 c   , the inner space  12  can receive a material forming a locking key  20 . This key  20  locks the means for fastening  21 ,  22  of the seal  10  on the anchor shapes  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2 . More precisely, this key prevents the flanks (lateral sides)  18 ,  19  of the heel  11  from giving in (i.e. from being deformed elastically inwards of the inner space  12  in order to allow the protuberances  21   a,    21   b  of the seal  10  to pass in front of the protuberances  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2 ) during the application of a pulling off force in the direction opposite the depth of the groove  6 . 
         [0054]    In a particularly advantageous embodiment, and as is shown in  FIGS. 3 to 14 , the heel  11  has a symmetrical structure in relation to the main plane P. As such, the protuberances  21   a,    21   b  are on either side of this plane. Likewise, the slits  22   a,    22   b  are located on either side of this plane. The groove of the rigid profile member  2  with its side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  also has a symmetry with respect to plane P. On the other hand, the sealing portion  13  of the seal  10  does not need to have a symmetrical structure in relation to plane P. 
         [0055]    The inventors have found that the elastic deformation of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  when it is inserted in the direction of the bottom of the groove  6  is easier if the inner space  12  is located between the side coupling shapes  21 ,  22 , and in particular between the slits  22   a,    22   b,  of the seal  10 , and this embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 3 to 12 , is preferred. In the most preferred embodiments, shown in  FIGS. 3 to 11 , the key  20  is also located between the side coupling shapes  21 ,  22 , and in particular between the slits  22   a,    22   b,  of the seal  10  as this reinforces the resistance of the seal against the pulling off. 
         [0056]    According to a particular embodiment of the coupling portion (heel)  11 , the lateral side (flank)  18 ,  19  of the heel  11  can comprise bosses  16 ,  17 . These bosses  16 ,  17  can come into contact with the key  20  and stabilize the inner space  12  of the coupling portion  11  against the deformation, and in particular against the deformation of the flank  18 ,  19 , during the pulling off of the seal  10 , as described hereinabove. These bosses  16 ,  17  can have different shapes such as studs (arranged in different ways) or one or several continuous lines (more preferably parallel to the longitudinal direction of the profile member). 
         [0057]    Advantageously on at least one lateral side  18 ,  19  (and preferentially on each side) said bosses  16   a,    16   b,    17   a,    17   b  are located on either side of the position that takes in the sealing system according to the invention the form of fastening  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2  in relation to the protuberance  21 ,  21   b,  in such a way as to stabilize the engagement between the side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2  and the means of fastening  21 ,  22  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10 . Alternatively (not shown in the Figures) the bosses can be located on the key  20 . 
         [0058]    The bosses  16 ,  17  can facilitate the introduction of the key  20  into the recess  12  of the seal  10  because they decrease the friction surface between the lateral surfaces  14 ,  15  of the key  20  and the inside lateral surfaces  18 ,  19  of the recess  12 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 17  the key  20  can have different sections. It is normally a profile member with a constant section in its length. It can have a solid section. It can comprise a longitudinal hollow (as in  FIGS. 11, 12, 16 and 17 ), and/or ribs (as in  FIGS. 11 and 17 ). It can be an “H”-shaped profile member, as in  FIG. 4 , or of any other suitable section, for example circular (as shown in  FIG. 12 ), triangular, polygonal, irregular. Advantageously the key  20  has two substantially parallel faces  14 ,  15  (as in  FIGS. 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 17 ) and which are positioned in the sealing system assembled parallel to the lateral sides  18 ,  19  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10 . 
         [0060]    However, said lateral sides  18 ,  19  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  do not need to be parallel or flat, but can have another shape, for example curved. Likewise, and as mentioned hereinabove, the lateral sides  14 ,  15  of the key  20  do not need to be parallel or flat, but advantageously have a shape that engages with the shape of said lateral sides  18 ,  19  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10 . By way of example, and as shown in  FIG. 12 , they key  20  can have a circular section, and the recess  12  can have a spherical section which allows for the inserting of said key  20 . 
         [0061]    Said seal  10  is typically made of elastomer. The surface of the inner space  12  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  (and of said bosses  16   a,    16   b,    17   a,    17   b  are present: preferably at least the latter) and/or the outer surface of the key  20  (and if bosses are present on the key  20 : preferably at least the latter) can be partially or entirely covered by a sliding surface covering in order to reduce friction during the inserting of the key  20  into the inner space  12  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  and as such facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the seal  10 . This surface covering can be chosen in particular from PTFE (or Teflon®), talc, grease, soaps. 
         [0062]    The sealing system according to the invention can comprise seals  10  that have a sealing portion  13  of a different type and shape, as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 : tubular seals with lip ( FIG. 6 ), tubular seals without lips ( FIG. 7 ), seals with sensitive electrical strip ( FIG. 8 ), seals without lips ( FIG. 9 ). More particularly: 
         [0063]    Tubular seals with lips ( FIG. 6 ) include in their sealing portion  13  at least one compressible tubular sealing zone  26  that provides the seal and lip  25  that reinforces the seal and hiding the tubular zone  26 . 
         [0064]    Tubular seals without lips ( FIG. 7 ) do not comprise lips, as the tubular portion  26  which is not visible has a smooth outer surface  27 . 
         [0065]    Seals with sensitive electrical strip ( FIG. 8 ) include a tubular zone wherein a sensitive strip  24  is located. 
         [0066]    Seals without lips ( FIG. 9 ) show a sealing portion  13  with low deformability, with the lip and/or tubular portion located on the seal facing (not shown in the Figure). 
         [0067]    Generally the sealing system according to the invention requires an engagement between the profile member  2  and the seal  10  (and in particular of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10 ). The shape of the profile member  2  and of said coupling portion  11  can be different, with the only condition being that this shape has a local narrowing of the lateral faces  7 ,  8  inside the profile member  2  (said narrowing able to form side anchor shapes  4 ,  5 ) which makes it possible to engage with the means of fastening  21 ,  22  of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10 . 
         [0068]      FIGS. 10 to 14  show different geometrical shapes of the sealing system according to the invention; the narrowing is indicated by two arrows. 
         [0069]    According to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 14  of the sealing system according to the invention, the inner space  12  of the heel  11  of the seal  10  is located between the side anchor shapes  5  of the profile member  2 , said anchor shapes  5  forming a narrowing; this allows for a crushing of the lateral sides  18 ,  19  of the heel  11  which facilitates the placing thereof in the groove of the profile member by axial insertion of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  in the groove according to the transversal direction, namely according to the axis B defined hereinabove. Preferably, the key is inserted into said recess between the side anchor shapes  5  of the rigid profile member  2 , according to the longitudinal direction, namely according to the axis A defined hereinabove. In this embodiment, advantageously the centre of the section of the key  20  is located close to the local narrowing represented by the side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  of the profile member  2  (or approximately at the same level as the latter). 
         [0070]    According to another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  the centre is located more deeply in the recess  3  of the profile member  2 , and as in said  FIGS. 12 and 13  the entire key  20  can be located beyond said narrowing (seen from the outside of the profile member  2 ), inside the recess  3  of the profile member  2 . 
         [0071]    In an embodiment, the key  20  is bearing on the lateral faces  18 ,  19  of the heel  11 . 
         [0072]    In another embodiment, the key  20  does not press on the lateral faces  18 ,  19  of the heel  11  against the side anchor shapes  4 ,  5 , but only prevents during the pulling off of the elastic seal  10  said lateral faces  18 ,  19  from being able to be compressed inwards of the inner space  12 . Otherwise, it is not necessary that the outer surfaces  14 ,  15  of the key  20  come to bear against the lateral sides  18 ,  19  of the heel  11  and exert (directly or by interposed bosses  16 ,  17 ) a pressure against the lateral sides  18 ,  19  of the heel  11 . There can even be a small clearance between the key  20  and its bearing faces on the heel  11  inside the recess  12 ; this will facilitate the inserting of the key  20  into said recess  12 . 
         [0073]    An advantage of the sealing system according to the invention is that the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  can be very flexible (in particular when the shape of the coupling portion (heel)  11  is such that in the sealing system, the inner space  12  of the heel  11  is located between the side anchor shapes of the profile member), as such allowing for the setting in place of it easily on the rigid profile member  2  with reduced effort. This setting in place of the heel  11  of the seal  10  in the recess  3  of the profile member  2  can be done perpendicularly or longitudinally in relation to the recess  3  of the profile member  2 , knowing that the inserting perpendicularly to the recess of the profile member (i.e. via axial insertion of the heel  11  of the seal  10  into the groove according to a transversal direction) is much easier than the longitudinal insertion thereof, especially if the sealing system according to the invention is designed in such a way that the inner space  12  of the heel  11  is located between the side anchor shapes  4 ,  5  forming a narrowing. The locking key  20  which is inserted simply via longitudinal sliding into the inner space  12  of the heel  11  of the seal  10  then provides a firm maintaining of the coupling portion (heel)  11  by opposing a resistance to the deformation thereof, as explained hereinabove. 
         [0074]    In addition for the disassembly the locking key  20  can slide longitudinally in the reverse direction in order to be extracted, which allows for the deformation of the coupling portion  11 , easily providing the withdrawal of the seal  10  during maintenance and replacement operations of the seal  10 . The removal of the seal  10  can as such be non-destructive. 
         [0075]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the disassembly of the sealing system can be carried out in a radial pulling off manner, but as the sealing system according to the invention was designed to improve the resistance of the seal  10  to the pulling off, this operation will require the use of special tools or require the destructive opening of the seal  10  with a sharp tool that makes it possible to remove the key  20  via a radial movement (if its thickness makes it possible to pass through the local narrowing). Preferably, the disassembly is carried out by longitudinal withdrawal of the key  20  (i.e. in the axis of the seal  10 ), possibly after removal of the means for fastening, followed by the withdrawal of the seal  10 . 
         [0076]    Another advantage of the sealing system according to the invention is that it has a strong resistance to the pulling off of the seal  10 , while still using a seal that is easy to mount in the profile member. In particular it has a strong resistance to axial pulling off according to a transversal direction according to the axis B ( FIG. 16 ) (with the pulling off force coming from the direction opposite the bottom of the groove), to pulling off via rotation ( FIG. 17 ) and to pulling off by peeling ( FIG. 18 ). The action of axial pulling off defined in  FIG. 16  is carried out according to a direction opposite the action of axial insertion of the coupling portion  11  of the seal  10  in the groove according to the transversal direction defined hereinabove, materialized by the axis B; this insertion is carried out towards the bottom  6  of the groove, while the pulling off is done in the opposite direction, namely opposite the bottom of this groove. 
         [0077]    The key  20  must be fixed in such a way that it does not exit from the seal  10  once the sealing system according to the invention is mounted on the openable panel  1 : a lateral exceeding even low of the key  20  is able to hinder the operation of the openable panel  1 . A means of fastening is therefore advantageously provided that prevents the key  20  from sliding longitudinally outside of the seal  10 . A means for fastening the key  20  must therefore be provided in the inner space  12  of the seal  10 . 
         [0078]    Several means of fastening can be used alone or in combination. More preferably these means of fastening are reversible means, i.e. able to be disassembled without the risk of damaging the key or the seal. By way of example, a plug can be fixed at each end of the seal, as such obstructing the recess  12  of the heel  11 . The key  20  can also itself be glued against the inner wall of the recess of the heel, for example using a thick flexible adhesive of the polyurethane type. An axis can also be set up in the horizontal plane, stopping the translation or translations of the key according to the vertical axis: this axis can in particular be a pin or a screw. A screw  28  can also be set in place linking the seal  10  to the key  20 ; this screw  28  can be self-tapping in the material of the key  20 . Such an embodiment is shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0079]    The key  20  can be made of different materials: elastomer, thermoplastic, thermoset, metal, or other suitable solid materials. The material of the key  20  can be harder than that of the seal  10 , or of a comparable hardness, or more flexible. 
         [0080]    In a particular embodiment, the key  20  is not formed of a solid material but of a fluid material. Said fluid material can for example be a liquid or a solid granular material: for example sand or granules of polymer. 
         [0081]    The sealing system according to the invention can be used on all types of openable panels. In particular it can be used for interior and exterior openable panels of railway vehicles (in particular trains, tramways, subway), maritime, road. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0082]    The following numerical markings are used in the drawings: 
         [0083]      1  Openable panel 
         [0084]      2  Profile member 
         [0085]      3  Recess in the profile member  2   
         [0086]      4 ,  5  Side anchor shape 
         [0087]      6  Bottom of the groove of the profile member  2   
         [0088]      7 ,  8  Lateral faces of the profile member  2   
         [0089]      9   a,    9   b  Sheets (walls of the openable panel  1 ) 
         [0090]      10  Seal 
         [0091]      11  Coupling portion (heel) 
         [0092]      12  Inner space (recess) 
         [0093]      13  Sealing portion of the seal  10   
         [0094]      14 ,  15  Faces of the key 
         [0095]      16 ,  17  Boss (coupling portion) 
         [0096]      18 ,  19  Lateral side (flank) of the heel  11   
         [0097]      20  Locking key 
         [0098]      21  Protuberance or protrusion (seal  10 ) 
         [0099]      22  Slit or notch (seal  10 ) 
         [0100]      23  Wall (of the coupling portion) 
         [0101]      24  Sensitive electrical strip 
         [0102]      25  Lip 
         [0103]      26  Tubular sealing zone 
         [0104]      27  Smooth outer surface 
         [0105]      28  Screw 
         [0106]      29   a,    29   b  Lateral faces of the profile member  2