code: @Deprecated
      public TimeUnitFormat setLocale(ULocale locale) {
          if (locale != this.locale){
              mf = mf.withLocale(locale);
  
              // Needed for getLocale(ULocale.VALID_LOCALE)
              setLocale(locale, locale);
              this.locale = locale;
              isReady = false;
          }
          return this;
      }
docs: Set the locale used for formatting or parsing.
  @param locale   locale of this time unit formatter.
  @return this, for chaining.
  @deprecated ICU 53 see {@link MeasureFormat}.