Method and apparatus for driving a pile into a substrate

1. A pile guide for supporting a pile as it is driven into a substrate, comprising:

a base frame having a planar substrate-engaging surface; and

a pile guide member configured to guide a pile in a predetermined direction therethrough as it is driven into a substrate, the pile guide member being mounted on the base frame via a plurality of support members extending therebetween;

wherein at least one of the plurality of support members has an adjustable length, with length adjustment of the or each support member enabling the predetermined direction to be varied relative to the planar substrate-engaging surface of the base frame, with the or each adjustable-length support member comprising a joint assembly having a first part coupled to the base frame and a second part, rotatable relative to the first part, coupled to the pile guide member, with one part comprising an at least partially spherical member with an elongate member extending therefrom, and the other part comprising a housing in which the at least partially spherical member is rotatably mounted.

2. A pile guide according to claim 1 , in which the plurality of support members comprise at least three support members.

3. A pile guide according to claim 2 , in which each support member has an adjustable length.

4. A pile guide according to claim 3 , in which the at least three adjustable length support members are spaced around the pile guide member to enable components of the predetermined direction to be varied in two different planes each perpendicular to the planar substrate-engaging surface of the base frame.

5. A pile guide according to claim 4 , in which the two different planes are mutually orthogonal.

6. A pile guide according to claim 1 , in which the at least partially spherical member has a bore extending therethrough for slidably receiving at least part of the elongate member.

7. A pile guide member according to claim 1 , in which the pile guide member comprises two portions, each pivotally movable about a respective pivot axis between an operative position and an inoperative position, with the pivot axis of one portion being defined by the elongate member extending from the at least partially spherical member.

8. A method of driving a pile into a non-level substrate, comprising:

providing a pile guide comprising: a base frame having a planar substrate-engaging surface; and a pile guide member configured to guide a pile in a predetermined direction therethrough as it is driven into a substrate, the pile guide member being mounted on the base frame via a plurality of support members extending therebetween; wherein at least one of the plurality of support members has an adjustable length, with length adjustment of the or each support member enabling the predetermined direction to be varied relative to the planar substrate-engaging surface of the base frame, with the or each adjustable-length support member comprising a joint assembly having a first part coupled to the base frame and a second part, rotatable relative to the first part, coupled to the pile guide member, with one part comprising an at least partially spherical member with an elongate member extending therefrom, and the other part comprising a housing in which the at least partially spherical member is rotatably mounted;

positioning the pile guide with the planar substrate-engaging surface of the base frame resting on the non-level substrate; and

adjusting the or each support member with an adjustable length to tilt the pile guide member relative to the base frame such that the predetermined direction is aligned substantially vertically when the planar substrate-engaging surface of the base frame rests on the non-level substrate.