Apparatus for filtering a fluid, in particular a plastic melt having impurities, and a valve arrangement for such a fluid

A filtering apparatus for filtering a fluid, comprising

• a housing which has at least one inlet for introduction of the fluid and an outlet for delivery of the fluid and a cavity formed in the housing by wall portions of the housing for receiving a sieve support, and
• a sieve support which is arranged moveably in the cavity of the housing and has a longitudinal axis, wherein the sieve support comprises at least one filter element mounting that is configured to receive at least one filter element for filtering the fluid,
• wherein 1) the sieve support externally has a plurality of integrally formed raised portions, the plurality of integrally formed raised portions being formed integrally with the sieve support and of the same material, and/or a non-rotationally symmetrical cross-section, and/or wherein 2) raised portions and/or recesses are formed at wall portions of the housing, that delimit the cavity,
• such that provided between the wall portions and the sieve support are a plurality of gaps/cavities, whereby a fluid flow is enabled in operation through the plurality of gaps/cavities between the sieve support and the wall portions regardless of an axial position of the sieve support while the at least one filter mount is positioned in an operational position within the housing.