Exhaust emission control device of internal combustion engine

A device for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine comprising a particulate filter on which the trapped particulates are oxidized and reversing means for reversing the exhaust gas upstream side and the exhaust gas downstream side of said particulate filter, wherein said particulate filter has a trapping wall for trapping the particulates, said trapping wall has a first trapping surface and a second trapping surface, said reversing means reverses the exhaust gas upstream side and the exhaust gas downstream side of said particulate filter so that said first trapping surface and said second trapping surface are used alternately to trap the particulates, said particulate filter has a first opening portion and a second opening portion through which the exhaust gas flows in and out from said particulate filter and is arranged in the exhaust pipe upstream of the muffler, and at least part of the circumferential portion of said particulate filter between said first opening portion and said second opening portion is contact with the flow of the exhaust gas in said exhaust pipe.