Self-aligning mounting and retention system

A system comprising:

• a drive housing comprising:
• an upper portion;
• a lower portion integral with the upper portion, the lower portion including a first cavity, the first cavity open at a front of the lower portion and at a bottom of the lower portion, the first cavity having a lower edge;
• and
• a first U-shaped flange extending from the lower edge and into the first cavity;
• a displacement pump including a fluid intake opening, a fluid discharge opening, and a drive opening;
• a pump rod disposed within the displacement pump and extending through the drive opening, wherein the pump rod is connected to a drive mechanism disposed within the drive housing and extending between the upper portion and the lower portion;
• and
• a clamp mounted on the displacement pump, the clamp comprising:
• an axial ring mounted on the displacement pump proximate the drive opening;
• and
• a tightening ring mounted on the displacement pump below the axial ring, wherein a gap is formed between the axial ring and the tightening ring;
• and
• wherein the gap receives a mounting portion of the lower portion to secure the displacement pump to the drive housing.

A method of connecting, by axial clamping, a displacement pump having external threading to a drive housing, the method comprising:

• screwing a tightening ring onto an external threading of the threaded pump;
• screwing an axial ring onto the external threading of the threaded pump;
• securing the axial ring at a desired location on the external threading;
• inserting the pump into a drive housing so that the axial ring and the tightening ring are positioned on opposite sides of a portion of the drive housing;
• and
• securing the pump to the drive housing by tightening the tightening ring to clamp the portion of the drive housing between the axial ring and the tightening ring.

A tightening ring for an axial mounting system, the tightening ring comprising:

• a first annular top edge;
• an outer wall extending axially downward from the first top edge;
• a plurality of projections extending radially outward from the outer wall;
• a first annular inner wall extending downward from the first annular top edge, the first annular inner wall having a first end and a second end, the first end adjoining the first top edge, wherein the first annular inner wall is a sloped wall;
• a second annular top edge extending radially inward from the second end of the first inner wall;
• and
• a second annular inner wall extending axially downward from an inner edge of the second annular top edge, wherein the second annular inner wall includes threading;
• and
• wherein the first annular inner wall and the second annular top edge define an alignment feature.