Patent 7165757 was granted and assigned to Pyrotek on January, 2007 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A control pin (12) for controlling the flow of liquid metal in a casting process includes an elongate body member (34), the body member being made at least partially of a composite ceramic material that includes a fibrous reinforcing material embedded within a ceramic matrix. The body member (34) is preferably hollow and includes a wear-resistant tip (36) at one end.