Device for preventing an exhaust gas recirculation valve from sticking after switching off an internal combustion engine

A device for preventing an exhaust gas recirculation valve from sticking after switching off the internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, having an exhaust gas recirculation line which branches off from an exhaust line and leads into a fresh gas line and is used for recirculating exhaust gas, the exhaust gas recirculation line having a valve with a closing element and the closing element being able to be moved between a closing position and an opening position by means of an actuator, and, when the internal combustion engine is not in operation, the closing element of the valve being placed in an idle position by means of the actuator, characterized in that the closing element of the valve can be activated by the actuator via a gear mechanism, it being possible for a rotational movement of the actuator to be converted into a linear movement of the closing element by means of the gear mechanism, and in that the gear mechanism has a first movement range and a second movement range, the first movement range being limited by the opening position and the closing position of the closing element of the valve, and the second movement range being limited by the closing position and the idle position of the closing element of the valve.