Exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine having an integrated valve position sensor

An exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine, said system comprising:

• a valve body having an exhaust port adapted for fluid communication with a source of exhaust gas, an intake port adapted for fluid communication with the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, and a valve member, said valve member having a valve element and a valve stem extending from said valve element, said valve stem including gear teeth formed on at least a portion thereof defining a longitudinal rack extending for a predetermined distance along the length of said valve stem;
• a drive member mounted to said valve body and including a drive shaft having a mechanical output rotatable in opposed first and second directions;
• a gear train operably disposed between, and in engagement with, said drive shaft and said gear teeth on said valve stem such that said mechanical output rotating in either of said first or second directions imparts linear, reciprocal motion directly to said valve member through said gear train thereby moving said valve member between open and closed positions to control the flow of exhaust gas from said exhaust port to said intake port;
• and
• a sensor integrated into said valve body and operatively connected to said valve member for detecting the linear position of said valve member as said valve member is reciprocally moved between said open and closed positions.