Sealed automatic filter scanning system

A method for operating a particle sampling system that includes a cylindrical coil for maneuvering a column of sampling ports along a cylindrical magnetic rail, the method comprising:

• providing the cylindrical magnetic rail surrounded by the cylindrical coil within a housing positioned internal to a duct, wherein the cylindrical coil is separated from the cylindrical magnetic rail by a radial gap circumferentially extending around the cylindrical magnetic rail;
• causing gas to move through an intake portion of the duct that contains the particle sampling system and a filter that filters the gas;
• receiving, at the cylindrical coil, a control signal from a controller that is external to the duct, wherein the controller causes the cylindrical coil to traverse the cylindrical magnetic rail;
• moving the column of sampling ports external to the housing along a length of the filter within the duct, wherein the column of sampling ports is attached to the cylindrical coil and moves in response to the cylindrical coil receiving the control signal;
• maintaining the radial gap circumferentially extending about the cylindrical magnetic rail when moving the cylindrical coil and the column of sampling ports along the cylindrical magnetic rail;
• and
• causing filtered gas to move through sampling ports of the column of sampling ports and out of the duct to an external particle sensor.

A particle sampling system, comprising:

• an air duct that includes an air input portion and an air output portion;
• an array of ports configured to receive filtered particles passing through a filter that is mounted within the air duct;
• a linear drive that includes a magnetic rail and a cylindrical coil, wherein the magnetic rail is a shaft and the cylindrical coil surrounds the shaft, and wherein the cylindrical coil is separated from the shaft by a radial gap circumferentially extending around the shaft;
• the linear drive connected to the array of ports and configured to maneuver the array of ports over a surface of the filter;
• a support plate connected to the array of ports and the cylindrical coil of the linear drive, the support plate configured to transfer mechanical energy from the cylindrical coil to the array of ports and maintain a position of the array of ports between the filter and the linear drive;
• and
• a housing positioned within the air duct, wherein the housing includes an opening facing downstream in a direction from the air input portion towards the air output portion, and wherein the housing at least partially envelopes the linear drive and the support plate extends through the opening and linearly travels along the opening of the housing while positioning the array of ports exterior to the housing.