EXHAUST GAS PURIFICATION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Rich control is performed to hold an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas discharged from an engine combustion chamber temporarily richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio by injecting additional fuel into a cylinder in an expansion stroke or exhaust stroke while an exhaust gas recirculation rate is made lower than a base exhaust gas recirculation rate. A variable valve timing mechanism able to change an overlap period is provided. When ending rich control (ta2), the injection of additional fuel is stopped and the overlap period (OL) is increased from a base overlap period (OLB) and held there while an EGR rate (REGR) is kept lower than a base EGR rate (REGRB) and when a delay time (dt) elapses, the EGR rate and the overlap period are reset to the base EGR rate and the base overlap period.