Patent ID: 7806138

Claim:
A valve manifold device for coupling a gas operated appliance in fluid communication to gas cylinders, comprising: a manifold having at least two inlet ports and an outlet port; at least two inlet valves respectively attached in fluid communication to said inlet ports of said manifold, wherein each of said inlet valves are releasably and directly attachable in fluid communication to an outlet assembly with external threads on a gas cylinder, wherein said inlet valves comprise check valves and wherein each of said check valves comprises: an inner section of said check valve, said inner section located adjacent said outlet port; an annular, threaded collar having internal threads that mate with said external threads of said outlet assembly; a protruding cylindrical outer section, said outer section of said check valve extending coaxially from said collar, protruding through and beyond said collar, and capable of protruding into said outlet assembly on said gas cylinder, wherein said collar has an internal diameter and wherein said protruding cylindrical outer section has an external diameter sufficiently smaller than said internal diameter of said collar that said collar and said protruding cylindrical outer section do not touch; and an interior opening therethrough that extends from an inlet in said protruding cylindrical outer section to an outlet in said inner section of said check valve, said interior opening serving as a gas conduit through said check valve, wherein said interior opening further comprises an enlarged center portion between said inner and outer sections of said check valve, said center portion having a valve seat at an outer end thereof wherein said outer end of said center portion is adjacent said outer section; and an outlet coupling attached in fluid communication to said outlet port of said manifold and releasably attachable, directly or indirectly, in fluid communication to a gas operated appliance.