Abstract: A pile driver for driving foundation piles, and having: a frame, in turn having a horizontal base, at least one upright extending upwards from the base, and a movable body which slides along the upright; a first lock device fitted to the horizontal base and which, in use, rigidly engages a connecting member of a foundation structure; a second lock device fitted to the movable body and which, in use, rigidly engages a shaft of a pile to be driven; and at least one hydraulic jack connected to the frame and to the movable body to move the movable body along the upright.

Abstract: A method of raising a building structure (1) with respect to the ground (2); the method including the steps of: forming a mat (7) having a number of through holes (12), each surrounded by a number of upward-projecting ties (16); inserting a foundation pile (9) through each hole (12); attaching to each foundation pile (9) a lifting device (11), which on one side rests on the top end of the foundation pile (9), and on the other side is secured to the corresponding ties (16) which act as reaction members; exerting thrust on the foundation piles (9) by means of the lifting devices (11) to lift the building structure (1) with respect to the ground (2); dividing lift of the building structure (1) into a succession of lift steps; establishing a predetermined lift value for each lift step; and, at each lift step, operating each lifting device (11) to expand the lifting device (11) by exactly the predetermined lift step value.

Abstract: A method of constructing a pile foundation, wherein a foundation structure is built on the ground, and has at least one through hole, and a connecting member fixed to the foundation structure, adjacent to the hole, and having at least one portion projecting upwards; a pile is inserted through the hole; and a number of thrusts are applied statically on the pile, to drive the pile into the ground, by means of a thrust device, which is located over the pile, cooperates with a top end of the pile, and is connected to the projecting portion of the connecting member which, when driving the pile, acts as a reaction member for the thrust device.