Patent ID: 8636028

Claim:
A propane system comprising, a refillable propane cylinder having a volume configured for containing no more than about one pound of propane, and a valve assembly detachably coupled to the cylinder, the valve assembly including, an outlet connector configured for operatively coupling the valve assembly to an appliance, the outlet connector including a swivel connector having outwardly facing threads configured for coupling to the appliance and a fixed central bore portion about which the swivel connector and outwardly facing threads are arranged to swivel, a manually activated flow valve arranged for selectively preventing a flow of propane from the cylinder to the appliance, a bi-directional flow valve disposed within the central bore of the outlet connector and between and in fluid communication with an outlet opening of the outlet connector and the manually activated flow valve, the bi-directional flow valve being configured for allowing a pressurized fluid to selectively flow out of the valve assembly through the outlet connector when the outlet connector is coupled to the appliance and into the valve assembly through the outlet connector when the outlet connector is coupled to a pressurized source of propane, a relief valve spaced apart from the cylinder, and a fixed liquid level gauge configured for alerting a safe filling level of the propane cylinder during cylinder refilling, wherein the manually activated flow valve is substantially aligned with the relief valve and, when the manually activated flow valve is in a closed position, the outlet connector is fluidly disconnected from the refillable propane cylinder by the manually activated flow valve, and wherein the valve assembly excludes a refill connector separate from the outlet connector.