Patent ID: 7059310

Claim:
An internal combustion engine, comprising a cylinderhead with at least one combustion chamber ( 15 ), at least one intake passage ( 12 ) and at least one exhaust passage ( 23 ) for gas exchange in the combustion chamber, an exhaust gas recirculation passage ( 8 ) extending from the exhaust passage ( 23 ) to at least one of the intake passages ( 12 ), and a valve flap ( 5 ), which is arranged on an intake-passage-side part of the exhaust gas recirculation passage ( 8 ), and has a pivot axis ( 18 ), disposed at a wall of the intake passage ( 12 ) and oriented transversely to the intake passage ( 12 ), and, in one end position thereof, bears with an intake-passage-side surface ( 10 ), laterally against the intake passage ( 12 ) in such a way as to be flush with adjacent wall parts of the intake passage ( 12 ) and, in its other end position, forms with the intake-passage-side surface ( 10 ), a ramp-like, continuous constriction, adjoining the pivot axis ( 18 ), in the intake passage ( 12 ), the exhaust gas recirculation passage ( 8 ) being shut off in the one end position of the flap ( 5 ) and being in communication with the intake passage in the other end position, the flap ( 5 ), in an axial view of the pivot axis ( 18 ), being in the form of a circle-segment-like/multisurface rotary slide valve which in one end position is pivoted into a recess ( 19 ) arranged on the intake passage ( 12 ) and, with a surface ( 11 ) which is inclined relative to the intake-passage-side surface ( 10 ) and is remote from the pivot axis, overlaps the exhaust gas recirculation passage ( 8 ) opening into the recess ( 19 ), or a passage ( 19 ′) connecting the recess ( 19 ) to the intake passage ( 12 ), in such a way as to shut off said passage ( 8 ) or said passage ( 19 ′).