Oil return for reduced height sealed compressor

The height of a sealed motor-driven compressor, such as a scroll compressor, is reduced by positioning a refrigerant inlet suction tube 31 in at least partial alignment with stator windings 27 of the motor 26. Oil returned from an oil return chamber 34 to a sump 29 is isolated from turbulent suction refrigerant gas entering the housing through the suction tube 31, preventing entrainment of oil into the gas, by directing the oil away from the suction tube 31 by means of a tube 40, or by various arrangements of tubes (84, Fig 4), shields (88,96,102, Figs 4-7) and fluid passages (80,90).