Techniques are described for determining whether snow chains are permitted to be used and to deploy snow chains based on traffic signs, weather conditions, and/or road conditions. An example method of autonomous driving operation includes performing a first determination, by a computer located in an autonomous vehicle, whether a use of snow chains is permitted based at least on a location where the autonomous vehicle is operating, performing a second determination that snow chains are required for driving the autonomous vehicle on a road, and sending, in response to the first determination indicating that the use of snow chains is permitted and in response to the second determination, instruction to snow chain devices located on the autonomous vehicle, where the instruction triggers the snow chain devices to deploy snow chains on tires of the autonomous vehicle.

An anti-skid arrangement for a vehicle is disclosed. The anti-skid arrangement includes a friction wheel including a hub and a ring arranged around the hub, and a chain plate attached to the hub, wherein the chain plate includes several chains intended to be thrown under the tire in order to increase friction between the tire and the ground. The hub includes two parts clamping the ring. Further, an inner side of the ring is provided with grooves extending in a tangential direction along the ring and facing each hub part, and the two parts are provided with protrusions engaging the grooves. The engagement between the tangential grooves and the protrusions in the hub will secure the ring firmly, even when the tread of the ring is worn down.

An anti-skid arrangement including a friction wheel with several chains intended to be thrown under a tire in order to increase friction between the tire and the ground, and an operating arm rotatably connected to the friction wheel, wherein the operating arm is adapted to be connected to the vehicle and to bring the friction wheel into frictional engagement with the tire. The anti-skid arrangement also includes a protective member having an inner part arranged around a rotation axis of the friction wheel and between the friction wheel and the operating arm, and an outer part with two side walls abutting against opposite sides of the operating arm. The protective member prevents the chains from getting stuck between the friction wheel and the operating arm, and is simple to produce.

Provided is an apparatus designed to engage tire chains on motorized vehicles when hazardous road conditions are present, including snow or ice. Moreover, the chains are designed to be deployed manually from inoperative to operative positioning by raising and lowering the apparatus handle. A rotating quick deploy chain wheel at the bottom of the apparatus throws a plurality of chains between the tire and road surface generating vehicle traction. This utility patent for tire chains will provide a cost effective, simple method for putting on and taking off snow tire chains. Existing automatic chain systems characteristically require electronics, motors or a pneumatic system. The embodiment of this apparatus is the simplicity of locking a handle and the chains are engaged. Releasing the handle and the chains are disengaged.

An anti-skid arrangement including a friction wheel with several chains intended to be thrown under a tire in order to increase friction between the tire and the ground, and an operating arm rotatably connected to the friction wheel, wherein the operating arm is adapted to be connected to the vehicle and to bring the friction wheel into frictional engagement with the tire. The anti-skid arrangement also includes a protective member having an inner part arranged around a rotation axis of the friction wheel and between the friction wheel and the operating arm, and an outer part with two side walls abutting against opposite sides of the operating arm.

The protective member prevents the chains from getting stuck between the friction wheel and the operating arm, and is simple to produce.

An anti-skid arrangement for a vehicle is disclosed. The anti-skid arrangement includes a friction wheel including a hub and a ring arranged around the hub, and a chain plate attached to the hub, wherein the chain plate includes several chains intended to be thrown under the tire in order to increase friction between the tire and the ground. The hub includes two parts clamping the ring. Further, an inner side of the ring is provided with grooves extending in a tangential direction along the ring and facing each hub part, and the two parts are provided with protrusions engaging the grooves.

The engagement between the tangential grooves and the protrusions in the hub will secure the ring firmly, even when the tread of the ring is worn down.

Provided is an apparatus designed to engage tire chains on motorized vehicles when hazardous road conditions are present, including snow or ice. Moreover, the chains are designed to be deployed manually from inoperative to operative positioning by raising and lowering the apparatus handle. A rotating quick deploy chain wheel at the bottom of the apparatus throws a plurality of chains between the tire and road surface generating vehicle traction. This utility patent for tire chains will provide a cost effective, simple method for putting on and taking off snow tire chains. Existing automatic chain systems characteristically require electronics, motors or a pneumatic system. The embodiment of this apparatus is the simplicity of locking a handle and the chains are engaged. Releasing the handle and the chains are disengaged.

Techniques are described for determining whether snow chains are permitted to be used and to deploy snow chains based on traffic signs, weather conditions, and/or road conditions. An example method of autonomous driving operation includes performing a first determination, by a computer located in an autonomous vehicle, whether a use of snow chains is permitted based at least on a location where the autonomous vehicle is operating, performing a second determination that snow chains are required for driving the autonomous vehicle on a road, and sending, in response to the first determination indicating that the use of snow chains is permitted and in response to the second determination, instruction to snow chain devices located on the autonomous vehicle, where the instruction triggers the snow chain devices to deploy snow chains on tires of the autonomous vehicle.

A tire chain assembly may include a peripheral chain assembly, a chain positioning assembly, and a retention ring. The peripheral chain assembly may extend around tire treads of a tire having an outer sidewall that extends in a radial direction to be operably coupled to a wheel rim. The chain positioning assembly may extend from the peripheral chain assembly over the outer sidewall toward an outer peripheral edge of the wheel rim. The retention ring may attach the chain positioning assembly to the outer peripheral edge of the wheel rim.