Tension monitoring apparatus

A device for monitoring the tension between a first and a second connecting point, the device comprising:

• a first member having a first end to be attached to the first connecting point and a cylindrical projection having a selected diameter extending away from the first end to a second end, the cylindrical projection and the second end of the first member respectively defining the walls and base of a cavity said cavity opening toward the first end and said cavity having a diameter less than said selected diameter and said base defining an aperture there-through having a diameter less than said cavity diameter;
• a second member having a first end to be attached to the second connecting point, the second member further defining a cylindrical aperture having a base and a diameter larger than the selected diameter, the cylindrical aperture extending from the base of the aperture to a second end of the second member such that the cylindrical projection of the first member is received by the cylindrical aperture with a sliding fit;
• a compression member;
• a spring bracket for covering the compression member, wherein the compression member and the spring bracket are received by the cavity defined in the first member;
• and
• a connecting member extending between the base of the aperture of the second member through said aperture in said base of said cavity of said first member and through said compression member securing the first member to the second member, the compression member and the connecting member arranged between the first member and the second member such that tension between the first connecting point and the second connecting point may be set to a selected value by compressing the compression member a selected amount thereby changing a distance and resulting tension between the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member, such that an unintended change in the tension from the selected value will result in an observable change of a distance between the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member as indicated by indicia associated with one or both of the first and second members.