1. A method for remanufacturing an electronic assembly, the assembly including a housing having therein a circuit assembly comprising a plurality of components, at least one of which is affixed to a portion of the housing, the method comprising:
removing a first portion of the housing to expose a portion of the circuit assembly, the exposed portion of the circuit assembly having thereon a plurality of solder joints, one or more of the solder joints being associated with at least one component affixed to a second portion of the housing for linking the at least one component to the circuit assembly;
lowering the exposed portion of the circuit assembly onto a desoldering fixture, wherein the desoldering fixture comprises a solder pot assembly including a plurality of solder pots each containing solder and having a closed upper edge, the upper edges of the pots lying essentially in a common plane and collectively encompassing a plurality of distinct regions, the solder pot assembly being registered with the exposed portion of the circuit assembly such that each solder joint associated with the at least one component affixed to the portion of the housing is aligned with only one of the plurality of distinct regions, and each solder joint not associated with the at least one component is registered with an area outside of the plurality of distinct regions; and
lifting the second portion of the housing away from the solder pot assembly while restraining the circuit assembly, thereby removing from the circuit assembly the at least one component affixed to the second portion of the housing.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising testing the circuit assembly to identify an improperly operating component thereon.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising reconditioning the circuit assembly by performing an operation selected from the group consisting of replacing the improperly operating component, repairing the improperly operating component, and adjusting the improperly operating component.
4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising reassembling the electronic assembly.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein lowering the exposed portion of the circuit assembly onto the desoldering fixture comprises engaging one or more latches to hold the circuit assembly in place against the upper edges of the plurality of solder pots.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more latches comprise two latches located to restrain respective opposite first and second edges of the circuit assembly.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein lowering the exposed portion of the circuit assembly onto a desoldering fixture comprises melting the one or more solder joints associated with the component affixed to the second portion of the housing.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein lifting the second portion of the housing away from the solder pot assembly comprises engaging a lifter assembly after the one or more solder joints associated with the component affixed to the second portion of the housing are melted.
9. A method of using and processing an engine control unit having a housing and a circuit assembly therein comprising a plurality of components, at least one of which is affixed to a portion of the housing, the method comprising:
installing the engine control unit into a machine unit;
using the engine control unit to control an engine of the machine unit;
removing the engine control unit from the machine unit;
removing a first portion of the housing to expose a portion of the circuit assembly, the exposed portion of the circuit assembly having thereon a plurality of solder joints, one or more of the solder joints being associated with at least one component affixed to a second portion of the housing for linking the at least one component to the circuit assembly;
lowering the exposed portion of the circuit assembly onto a desoldering fixture, wherein the desoldering fixture comprises a solder pot assembly including a plurality of solder pots each containing solder and having a closed upper edge, the upper edges of the pots lying essentially in a common plane and collectively encompassing a plurality of distinct regions, the solder pot assembly being registered with the exposed portion of the circuit assembly such that each solder joint associated with the at least one component affixed to the portion of the housing is aligned with only one of the plurality of distinct regions, and each solder joint not associated with the at least one component is registered with an area outside of the plurality of distinct regions;
lifting the second portion of the housing away from the solder pot assembly while restraining the circuit assembly, thereby removing from the circuit assembly the at least one component affixed to the second portion of the housing; and
testing the circuit assembly as if the at least one component had not been removed.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising repairing the circuit assembly.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising reassembling the circuit assembly and the first and second portions of the housing to form a remanufactured engine control unit and installing the remanufactured engine control unit into a machine unit.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An automotive vehicle body structure, comprising:
a vehicle body main frame including a floor member defining a floor of a passenger compartment, a dashboard panel extending upright from a front end of the floor member, and a pair of front side beams extending between a front end of the vehicle body and the dashboard panel;
a crash load transmitting member extending from a front end of the vehicle body to a part adjacent to the floor member;
a vehicle seat connected to the crash load transmitting member;
a guide member attached to the main frame for normally fixedly securing the crash load transmitting member but allowing the crash load transmitting member to move rearward of the vehicle body when the crash load transmitting member is subjected to a rearward force exceeding a prescribed threshold level; and
a stopper which is fixedly attached to the main frame, and adapted to abut a part of the crash load transmitting member upon a rearward movement of the crash load transmitting member by a prescribed distance;
the prescribed threshold level being smaller than a level that will cause a collapsing deformation of the crash load transmitting member.
2. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said stopper is located adjacent to a lower end of said dashboard panel.
3. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said guide member is located adjacent to a lower end of said dashboard panel, and an enlarged part is provided in a part of said crash load transmitting member ahead of said guide member by said prescribed distance so that the guide member may serve as said stopper which abuts said enlarged part as said crash load transmitting member moves rearward by said prescribed distance.
4. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 3, wherein a cushioning member is provided between said guide member and said enlarged part of said crash load transmitting member.
5. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 4, wherein said cushioning member comprises a plastically collapsible extension of said enlarged part.
6. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 4, wherein said cushioning member comprises a plastically collapsible extension of said guide member.
7. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said stopper is provided adjacent to a rear end of said floor member.
8. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said crash load transmitting member comprises a sub frame which is adapted to support an engine andor a wheel suspension system.
9. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said guide member comprises a channel shaped bracket which surrounds a part of said crash load transmitting member so as to achieve a prescribed frictional retaining force.
10. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said guide member comprises a rod which is passed through a longitudinal slot formed in one of said main frame and said crash load transmitting member and secured to the other of said main frame and said crash load transmitting member so as to achieve a prescribed frictional retaining force.
11. An automotive vehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein said guide member comprises a rod which extends in the fore-and-aft direction from one of said main frame and said crash load transmitting member, and a hole formed in the other of said main frame and said crash load transmitting member to receive and retain said rod with a prescribed retaining force.