Snap-fit lubricant pick-up tube for a motor compressor

A lubricating device for use in a hermetic compressor and the like comprising:

• a shaft adapted to be disposed vertically in the compressor and rotated about its longitudinal axis, said shaft having an open hollow lower end terminating in a lower edge,
• said hollow lower end including an inner surface extending upwardly from said lower edge and further including a locking opening in said inner surface,
• a lubricant pick-up tube having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other end thereof, at least a portion of said other end of said tube being bifurcated along the longitudinal direction of said tube, with the furcations forming a pair of resilient locking arms,
• an outwardly projecting locking nib on one of said arms,
• said locking arms being received in said shaft lower end with said locking nib being snap fit in said locking openings, and
• a pair of cooperating locating elements respectively on said shaft lower end and said pick-up tube, said locating elements and said locking nib and said locking opening being pre-oriented with respect to each other such that said locking opening and locking nib will be axially aligned when said locating elements are axially aligned.

A lubricating device for use in a hermetic compressor and the like comprising:

• a shaft adapted to be disposed vertically in the compressor and rotated about its longitudinal axis, said shaft having an open hollow lower end terminating in a lower edge,
• said hollow lower end including an inner surface extending upwardly from said lower edge and further including a locking opening in said inner surface,
• a lubricant pick-up tube having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other end thereof, at least a portion of said other end of said tube being bifurcated along the longitudinal direction of said tube, with the furcations forming a pair of resilient locking arms,
• an outwardly projecting locking nib on one of said arms,
• said locking arms being received in said shaft lower end with said locking nib being snap-fit in said locking opening,
• a locating slot in said shaft lower edge and an outwardly projecting locating ear on said pick-up tube received in said slot,
• said locking nib, locking opening, locating slot and locating ear being pre-oriented relative to each other so that said nib and locking opening will be axially aligned when said locating slot and ear are axially aligned, whereby said tube can be properly oriented when it is inserted in said shaft lower end.

In a compressor, the method of assembling a centrifugal lubricating device comprising:

• providing a depending shaft in said compressor adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis by said compressor, said shaft including an open hollow lower end with an inner surface and a locking opening in said surface,
• providing a centrifugal-type lubricant pick-up tube being bifurcated at one end along the longitudinal axis thereof with the furcations forming a pair of resilient locking arms, at least one of the arms including a locking nib adapted to lock together with the locking opening,
• inserting the tube locking arms into the shaft lower end with the arms being deflected inwardly by the shaft inner surface,
• axially aligning a pair of locating elements on the shaft lower end and the pick-up tube, respectively, and
• radially aligning the locking nib and locking opening whereupon the locking nib snaps into the locking opening as the arms snap outwardly, thereby locking the tube in place.