Devices and methods for handling radius fillers

A radius filler transport tool comprising:

• a first trough portion and a second trough portion that are configured to align to form a trough, wherein the first trough portion includes a support rail and a base, wherein the second trough portion includes a support rail and a base, wherein the support rail of the first trough portion has a first contact tip and the support rail of the second trough portion has a second contact tip, and wherein the first contact tip and the second contact tip are configured to contact a radius filler supported between the first contact tip and the second contact tip;
• and
• a plurality of hanger assemblies configured to transversely span the trough, wherein each hanger assembly includes a first arm and a second arm, wherein the first arm is configured to couple the hanger assembly to the first trough portion, and wherein the second arm is configured to couple the hanger assembly to the second trough portion;
• wherein the trough has a trough closed state and a trough open state, wherein, in the trough closed state, the first contact tip and the second contact tip are separated by a radius filler retention gap that is sized to retain a tip of an uncured radius filler between the first contact tip and the second contact tip, and wherein, in the trough open state, the first contact tip and the second contact tip are separated by a radius filler clearance gap that is greater than the radius filler retention gap and that is sized to permit the uncured radius filler to exit the trough through the radius filler clearance gap;
• and
• wherein each hanger assembly has a hanger closed state and a hanger open state, wherein, in the hanger closed state, the first arm is coupled to the first trough portion, the second arm is coupled to the second trough portion, and the hanger assembly transversely spans the trough, and wherein, in the hanger open state, the first arm is released from at least one of the first trough portion and the second arm.