Wheel Braking Mechanism

A wheel braking mechanism, comprising:

• a first brake member including one of a brake shaft and a brake drum;
• a second brake member including the other of the brake shaft and the brake drum, the brake shaft and the brake drum being co-axially aligned,
• the first brake member having a first spline provided thereon, the second brake member having a plurality of second splines provided thereon, the plurality of second splines being arranged on the second brake member to define a plurality of spline recesses adapted to receive at least a part of the first spline;
• a first alignment member provided on the first spline and projecting outwardly therefrom;
• a plurality of second alignment members corresponding to and provided on the plurality of second splines, each second alignment member projecting outwardly from the respective second spline, the alignment members each comprising first and second oppositely directed chamfered alignment surfaces oriented to give each alignment member a generally triangular profile;
• and
• a brake actuation means operable to axially move the first brake member between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
• wherein in the engaged position, the first spine is at least partly received within a particular spline recess and engages with an adjacent second spline, and in the disengaged, position, the first spline is spaced from the plurality of spline recesses;
• and
• wherein movement of the first brake member toward the engaged position causes the first alignment member to contact a particular second alignment member and to travel along the respective chamfered alignment surfaces of the particular second alignment member, thereby aligning the first spline into an adjacent spline recess.