High load bearing central-braking caster

A twin-wheeled central locking caster comprising:

• a yoke;
• first and second wheels having a rotational axis mounted on the yoke, each wheel having a cylindrical flange with the inner surface thereof accessible as a brake drum;
• a pivot pin mounted to the yoke and oriented in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the wheels;
• a brake lever mounted on the pivot pin, whereby the brake lever is disposed to pivot exclusively about a horizontal axis parallel to the rotational axis of the wheels;
• the brake lever having first and second brake arms, the first brake arm having a convexly curved portion disposed to directly engage the brake drum of the first wheel, the second brake arm having a convexly curved portion disposed to directly engage the brake drum of the second wheel;
• and
• one or more compression spflngs each having a first end and a second end, the first end of each compression spring being seated in fixed relation to the yoke, the second end of each compression spring pressing against a portion of the brake lever to bias the brake arm away from the brake drum.

A bed mounted on a plurality of central locking casters, each central locking caster comprising:

• a yoke;
• first and second wheels having a rotational axis mounted on the yoke, each wheel having a cylindrical flange with the inner surface thereof accessible as a brake drum;
• a pivot pin mounted to the yoke and oriented in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the wheels;
• a brake lever mounted on the pivot pin, whereby the brake lever is disposed to pivot exclusively about a horizontal axis parallel to the rotational axis of the wheels;
• the brake lever having first and second brake arms, the first brake arm having a convexly curved portion disposed to directly engage the brake drum of the first wheel, the second brake arm having a convexly curved portion disposed to directly engage the brake drum of the second wheel;
• and
• one or more compression springs each having a first end and a second end, the first end of each compression spring being seated in fixed relation to the yoke, the second end of each compression spring pressing against a portion of the brake lever to bias the brake arm away from the brake drum.