Clay bodies for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clay body for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening, comprising a shell made of fired clay, which has a central part with a closed outer wall and an inner cavity for receiving water, wherein the central part has an inlet at one end, the inlet consisting of two sections, namely a first section which is attached directly to the central part and a second section, wherein the first section lies between the central part and the second section and the outer diameter of the first section is smaller than the outer diameter of the second section, wherein the first section has a length adapted to the length of an adjustable inlet closure means in order to securely and sealingly attach a line which is laid over both sections of the inlet to the inlet closure means on the first and / or second section.

Description

The present invention relates to a clay body for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening made of a fired clay casing. The closest prior art is the German utility model DE 20 2023 100 356 U1, further prior art is the article by Professor Dr. Tassilo-Maria Schimmelpfennig entitled “Clay Irrigation - Development of a process for the efficient handling of the scarce raw material water”. The main problem with the solution known from DE 20 2023 100 356 U1 is that the clay body described therein is very expensive to manufacture and has further disadvantages. As a further example of prior art, reference is made to EP 2 153 714 A1, which discloses an irrigation system with a semi-permeable membrane. The clay body described in the aforementioned prior art is manufactured using a 3D printing process, wherein the known clay body has a central part which is closed at both ends with an inlet and outlet respectively and on the outside the inlet and outlet have barbed structures onto which a corresponding connecting hose can be slid, which, however, cannot be removed or can only be removed with difficulty due to the barbed structure. In practice, however, it has turned out that these known inlet and outlet structures are often leaky because, among other things, the clay body must be fired after the 3D printing process and then does not always have the same dimensions as immediately after printing. The shrinkage of the material during firing is not always uniform and then leads to the problems described. A particular problem with the 3D printing process is that the layer-by-layer construction has also revealed that the clay bodies produced in this way are prone to breakage.This is directly related to the layer-by-layer construction using the 3D printing process and the subsequent firing of the clay, and the problem is particularly significant in the connection area, i.e., in the area where the clay body is to be connected to a hose, because cracks occur in this connection area that are often so large that parts of the connection, which is manufactured using the 3D printing process, break off, causing the connection to leak and damaging or even rendering the clay body unusable. The resulting leakage at the transition between the hose connection on the one hand and the inlet / outlet on the other hand is also accompanied by the hose not always being securely seated on the inlet or outlet, and under certain circumstances this can lead to the hose detaching from the clay body when forces act on the hose. The object of the invention is to improve the clay bodies known to date, as well as their manufacture, and to eliminate the previous problems of the clay bodies when connected to hoses. The object of the present invention is achieved by means of a clay body having the features according to claim 1. Beneficial further training opportunities are described in the sub-requirements. According to the present invention, the clay body for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening consists of a shell made of fired clay, which has a central part with a closed outer wall and an inner cavity for receiving water, wherein the central part has an inlet at one end, the inlet consisting of at least two sections, namely a first section which is attached directly to the central part and a second section, wherein the first section lies between the central part and the second section and the outer diameter of the first section is smaller than the outer diameter of the second section, wherein the first section has a length which is adapted to the length of an adjustable inlet closure means in order to securely and sealingly attach a line which is laid over both sections of the inlet to the inlet closure means on the first and / or second section. The middle part of the clay body and / or the inlet is preferably produced by means of a slip casting process or an extrusion process or by pressing one or more prefabricated parts, wherein the individual parts (middle part, inlet) are then joined / glued together and connected using a correspondingly different process and then subjected to a clay firing. A conduit (e.g., hose, pipe (with O-ring)) can be placed / slipped over the inlet and secured to it with the adjustable inlet sealing compound, ensuring a tight and secure connection even if the individual inlet spigots of the clay body have slightly different dimensions due to varying shrinkage properties, as well as the manufacturing, processing, and finishing of the clay bodies. Such processing steps include, for example, deburring, edge finishing, and surface treatment (sanding, grinding down rough areas, especially in the transition zone between the middle section and the inlet area, cleaning, etc.). A shoulder is preferably formed between the transition from the first section of the inlet and the second section, against which the line can be securely pressed to the inlet by the inlet sealing means, thus ensuring a good seal. Preferably, the outer diameter of the second section of the inlet is a clear dimension larger than the inner diameter of the conduit, which is preferably a ½ inch or ¾ inch hose made of flexible material. This means the hose is directly adjacent to the second section, and a sealing function between the pipe and the inlet is already achieved in this section area as well. Preferably, the inlet and the middle section are manufactured together, but separate manufacturing is also possible, so that the separately manufactured parts for the inlet and the middle section are then joined together, for example by gluing, pressing, or the like, to hold them securely together. Preferably, the clay body has a second end which is provided either with a termination, e.g. a frustoconical termination, or with an outlet, the outlet then preferably having the same structure and dimensions as the described inlet. It is also possible to securely close this outlet using a plug (e.g., made of flexible material) or a cap made of elastic material (e.g., rubber), so that the outlet then no longer has an outlet function, but rather the function of closing a clay body. Preferably, the central part of the clay body is essentially cylindrical and preferably has structures on the outside to increase the surface area. Preferably, the inlet closure means is a clamp, e.g. a hose clamp, a pipe clamp or the like, and the clamp has a width that corresponds approximately to, or exactly to, the length of the first section. With this design of the clamp, it is possible that it cannot slip off the inlet if the second section has a larger diameter than the first section, and a secure seal is formed by squeezing the hose between the clamp and the first section and in the transition to the second section of the inlet. Preferably, the inlet of the clay body has a third section that adjoins the second section, extending away from the central part. The third section has an outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the second section, and preferably also of the first section. The diameter of the third section is specifically designed so that a hose with a ½ inch diameter can be easily pushed over it. The first section preferably has a diameter that is particularly suitable for accommodating a ¾ inch hose. This increases the length of the inlet nozzle, thereby improving the stability (and guidance for the line) of the entire inlet. Preferably, the first section of the inlet is essentially cylindrical, as is the second section, and in the transition area between the first and second sections, they have the same outer circumference – no sharp edges – although the diameter of the second section is balloon-like or convex and increased in the longitudinal direction away from the central section. Thus, a shoulder is formed in the transition area between the first and second sections, which allows the inlet closure device to properly engage the conduit that seals the inlet. According to the invention, a system with a number of clay bodies for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening can be formed using clay bodies, wherein in the first variant of the system a supply line is connected to a plurality of clay bodies, wherein in the area of ​​the connection the clay body and the line are provided with T-pieces in order to lead water on the one hand through the line to the next clay body and on the other hand via the T-piece to the connected clay body, wherein a line section (hose section) of a selected length is formed between the T-piece and the connected clay body and the line section is attached to the clay body by means of the closing means, e.g. clamp. This system described above allows a large number of clay bodies to be placed not only horizontally in the ground, but also upright in the ground, whereby it is also possible for the supply line to be visibly located above the ground, so that if a leak should occur, this can be easily detected by visual inspection. If the pipe section between the T-piece and the inlet is sufficiently long, a horizontal installation of the clay body in the ground is also possible; it is also generally possible for the entire system to be arranged so that it is no longer visible from above after installation. However, a visible arrangement of the supply line above ground has the advantage that the user always knows exactly where the clay bodies are located in the ground, thus preventing accidental damage to the clay body when using garden tools. An alternative system consists of the supply line having a large number of interruptions, and in these interruptions, the clay body is connected to the supply line with its inlet and outlet. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a first variant of the clay body according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows an open cross-section of a second variant of the clay body according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows an enlargement of the inlet of the clay body to its central part, Fig. 4 shows an external view of the first variant, Fig. 5 shows an external view of the second variant, Fig. 6 shows the connection of the clay body of the first variant in an irrigation system, Fig. 7 shows the integration of the clay bodies of the second variant in an irrigation system, Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of the installation of a clay body of the first variant, which is connected to the hose system, Fig. 9 shows an underground installation of a clay body of the second variant with an attached hose, Fig. 10 shows a clay body of the first variant in aboveground installation, Fig.Figure 11 shows a clay body of the first or second variant, which is covered with soil material; Figure 12 shows a clay body of the first or second variant, which is inserted vertically into a hole in the ground; Figure 13 shows a system with clay bodies of the first variant, which are connected to a hose system and which has not yet been placed in the ground; and Figure 14 shows the laying of an irrigation system with the clay bodies of the second variant in the ground (but still in an uncovered state). Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a clay body 1 with an inlet 2 on one side and a closure 3 on the other. In the central region of the clay body 1, a middle section 4 is formed. As mentioned, the inlet 2 with a first section 5, a second section 6, and a third section 7 is located on one side of this middle section 4. The first section 5 is thus situated between the middle section 4 and the second section 6, to which a third section 7 extends away from the middle section. The central section 4 is essentially hollow and cylindrical with a structured surface and a wall thickness of preferably 5 mm to 12 mm – depending on the application, preferably between 7 mm and 9 mm. The thinner the wall thickness, the more the existing water pressure determines how much water seeps out through the wall of the clay body. With a wall thickness of 8 mm or more, however, water pressure is less of a determining factor; instead, the osmotic force becomes the dominant factor. This force arises from the difference in moisture content between the inside and outside of the clay body. The drier the external environment of the clay body, the greater this force, which causes water to seep through the wall from the inside to the outside. Therefore, in the solution according to the invention, clay bodies with a wall thickness >7 mm, preferably 8 mm to 12 mm, are particularly preferred. The inlet 2 has an internal channel 8 that opens into an interior space 9 of the central section 4. The diameter of this channel is between 4 mm and 8 mm, allowing water to flow from the outside through the channel into the interior space 9 of the central section, or from the interior space 9 back out through the channel 8. The closure 3 of the clay body is preferably pointed or bluntly conical, which has the advantage that the clay body can then be twisted or pressed vertically into the ground, which is easily possible in loosened garden soil. Alternatively, a vertical recess is made in the ground with a tool to insert the clay body. The entire clay body is made from a clay material with a special mixture for optimal moisture management. Due to the special properties of the clay material, water can be released to the outside as needed. Preferably, the clay body is produced using the slip casting process; in addition to a one-piece production of the entire clay body, a multi-part production is also possible, e.g., a production first of only the middle part, then of the inlet and the closure, whereby these parts are then joined together after production, e.g., glued, in order to then be subjected to the clay firing in the range of 960 °C to 1150 °C. It is also possible to produce the entire clay body by pressing individual parts together, and the pressed parts are then joined together as mentioned, e.g. glued and then fired. The outer diameter of the clay body is in the range of 40 mm to 80 mm, preferably approximately 50 mm, and the length of the middle part of the clay body is between 180 mm and 220 mm, preferably 200 mm. The total length of the inlet is approximately 20 mm to 40 mm, the diameter of the first section is approximately 12 mm to 15 mm, the largest outer diameter of the second section is approximately 20 mm, and the largest outer diameter of the third section is approximately 13 mm. In addition to the dimensions mentioned, it is of course also possible to produce the clay body with other dimensions, e.g. smaller clay bodies for watering indoor and balcony plants; larger dimensions are also possible in order to increase the water capacity and connection sizes, especially if the clay body is intended for watering in fields or on trees. Fig. 2 shows an alternative design of the clay body, which differs from the variant shown in Fig. 1 in that, instead of the closed end 3, an outlet 10 is attached to / formed on the central part 4 of the clay body. This outlet 10 has the same structural dimensions as the inlet 2, with a first section 11, a second section 12, and a third section 13, each of which in turn accommodates an open channel 14 on its inner side. As mentioned, the dimensions of the outlet 10 are essentially the same as the dimensions of the inlet 2, but they can also differ if this is desired for a specific purpose. In the variant according to Fig. 2, water which enters the interior 9 of the clay body 1 through the inlet 2 can not only be released to the outside via the outer wall 15 of the clay body, but water can also be released from the interior 9 to the outside via the outlet 10 and flow out of the clay body. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a part of the clay body 1 with a part of the middle section 4 with its externally formed structured surface 16, as well as the inlet 2 with the first section 5, the second section 6 and the third section 13, and the open access of the inlet channel 8. The transition between the first section 5 and the middle section 4 is formed by a cover 17; this cover 17 is manufactured either together with the inlet 2 or together with the middle section 4, or separately. The structured surface 16 has the advantage that it is larger than the ideal surface area and can therefore release moisture to the outside more effectively. In Fig. 3 it can be seen particularly well that the first section 5 has a predetermined length L1 and a predetermined outer diameter, which is smaller than the outer diameter of the second section 6 with its determined length L2. The length L1 of the first section is essentially adapted to the width of a closure device, e.g., a pipe clamp; this will be explained later. The second section 6 widens outwards in a convex or balloon-like shape, and its outer diameter is ideally approximately the same size as, or a clear size smaller or larger than, the inner diameter of a conduit, e.g., a standard hose, which is positioned / placed over the inlet, with the free end of the hose being able to be brought close enough to touch the cover 17. Fig. 4 shows an external view of the clay body according to Fig. 1 with the central part 4, the end 3 and the inlet 2. In this figure, the structured surface 16 can also be clearly seen, which is essentially formed from alternating raised ridges and depressions that extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction. Fig. 5 shows the top view of the clay body according to the variant in Fig. 2, i.e. with a middle part 4 and the inlet 2 on one side of the middle part and the outlet 10 on the other side of the middle part. Fig. 6 shows a hose 18 (as the preferred conduit) connected to the clay body 1. For this purpose, the hose 18 has a break into two sections 19 and 20. These two sections then receive a T-piece 21 at their free ends, and the free ends of hose sections 19 and 20 are attached to the T-piece by means of pipe clamps 22a and 22b, so that the hose ends 19 and 20 are fixed to the T-piece and sealed against it. The T-piece 21 is hollow on the inside, so water can flow through the T-piece from hose section 19 to hose section 20. At the third end of the T-piece 21, another hose section 23 is connected, which on one side encloses the free end of the T-piece 21 and is also secured there with a clamp as a closure, and the other end of the hose section 23 is pushed over the inlet 2 of the clay body 1 and is also secured there with a pipe clamp or a corresponding closure device, preferably the width of the pipe clamp being approximately as wide as the length of the first section. The clamp presses the hose onto the first section and / or second section, preferably also the transition area between the first and second sections, where it forms a shoulder 24 due to the balloon-like expansion of the second section.This has the advantage for the sealing at the shoulder that the forces (from the outside) which also act on the inlet in its longitudinal direction, thus squeeze the hose at the corresponding point and enable a secure seal, so that no water can escape to the outside through this part of the closure. Fig. 7 shows the connection of a hose 18 with hose sections 19 and 20 to the clay body according to the variant shown in Fig. 2. The figure clearly shows that the clamp is positioned either spaced apart from or touching the lid 17 of the clay body, and the hose is also pushed over the inlet 2 or outlet 10 up to the lid. It can be seen that the hose 18 is pinched between the hose clamp and the inlet by the hose clamp. Both Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show that water, which is guided through the hose 18, can enter the interior of the clay body 1. In the variant according to Fig. 6, the water can leave the interior by passing through the wall 17 of the clay body; in the embodiment according to the second variant 8, water can both flow through the interior from a hose section 19 to the hose section 20 and also pass through the wall of the clay body to the outside. Fig. 8 schematically shows the placement of the clay body 1 according to Fig. 1, Fig. 9 shows the placement of the clay body according to the variant according to Fig. 2 . Fig. 8 shows that the clay body 1 is inserted vertically into the ground and, in the variant shown, the hose 18 with the top of the T-piece remains visible above the ground. The water entering the body can pass through the wall to the outside, thus moistening or irrigating the soil in the vicinity of the clay body. In the variant according to Fig. 9, the clay body lies essentially horizontally in the ground, and this also applies to the hose sections that are connected to the inlet or outlet of the clay body, with one end of the hose protruding from the ground to be connected to a water supply via a standard hose connection system, e.g., the GARDENA® system. Fig. 10 shows the placement of a clay block according to variant 1 above the ground; it can also be seen that water is already seeping out from the inside of the clay block, flowing down its surface, and then wetting the ground. Of course, placing the clay block according to Fig. 2 directly on the ground surface is also possible. Fig. 11 shows a variant with a clay body that is covered by the earth, so that in particular the earth that touches the clay body is well moistened and supplied with water. Fig. 12 shows how the clay body is inserted vertically into a pre-made hole in the ground according to variant 1. Fig. 13 shows a system of several clay bodies according to variant 1, which are connected to a hose, and in the area of ​​the connection the individual clay bodies are each connected to the hose via a T-piece and hose sections. Of course, it is also possible to integrate several clay bodies of variant 2 one after the other into a hose system, i.e., with a first hose section, then clay body, next hose section, then another clay body, another hose section, another clay body, etc. How many such clay bodies with which hose length are laid depends on the specific application. The hose cutting, as well as the number of clay bodies, the connection of the hose to the clay bodies, etc., can be easily done by a user, especially if the pipe clamps have a common thread for common tools, e.g. Phillips, TORX, Allen key, etc. Thus, according to the invention, a system set can be provided which the customer can adapt to his needs. The clay bodies 1 can be used both outdoors and indoors. The hoses preferably have a diameter of ½ inch or ¾ inch. In the system with the clay bodies according to variant 2, it is important to ensure that the last hose connection is fitted with a closure, e.g., a plug, rubber cap, or similar, to prevent water from simply flowing through the hose into the environment. In the system according to the invention, the water should preferably only enter the ground through the clay bodies. The plug for closing the clay body can also be made of clay. This has the advantage that, if the plug is damp on the outside, water can be released to the outside at that point. Furthermore, the damp clay plug then acts as an indicator that water is present in the system; thus, the clay plug also has a sensor function that a rubber cap would not provide. It is also possible that liquid fertilizer or other liquids are added to the water; these liquids can also easily seep out through the walls of the clay bodies. Both the clay bodies and the irrigation systems described can be operated without electricity; all that is needed is a water connection with a water supply, be it from a tap, a rainwater barrel, or the like. One advantage of laying clay bodies underground is that it ensures that the clay bodies remain frost-free even in the cold season and are thus protected against frost damage. Frost damage can also be avoided if the clay liners are no longer supplied with water during the colder months. The system with clay liners according to variant 1 offers greater flexibility for retrofitting, even for changing the liners mid-year, and allows the user to always know approximately where the clay liners are located in the ground, especially when the hose is above ground. This prevents damage or destruction of the clay liners during gardening work using common garden tools such as rakes, shovels, and hoes. A closure of the outlet on the clay body of variant 2 allows this clay body to be used in the same way as the clay body of variant 1. The closure can be a lid, but also a cap made of flexible rubber, plastic or similar material with a rubber ring, or again a pipe clamp closure, so that the outlet is then securely sealed. Ultimately, it is also possible to connect the hose to the clay body using an adhesive, e.g., a medium-elastic adhesive. In that case, pipe clamps are not necessary. When connecting a system of clay bodies of variant 1 or 2 to the house water connection with a hose, a pressure reducer is preferably provided between the house water connection and the hose system in order to avoid subjecting the clay bodies to excessively high water pressures. As described, when forming a system with a clay body of the second variant (Fig. 2), it is possible to create a "hose-clay body chain" – see Fig. 14 – meaning that a first clay body 1 is connected to a first hose section, and to that, another hose section, then another clay body, then another hose section, and so on. The number of clay bodies and the length of the hose sections 18, 19, 20 are always determined by the user, depending largely on the humidification / irrigation requirements. The clay body that terminates the system can be a clay body of the second variant with the outlet closed by means of a plug, cap, etc., or the final clay body can be a clay body of the first variant, which has only an inlet but no outlet. In both variants, it is ensured that the water supplied to the clay bodies via the hose can only leave the clay bodies via the clay bodies and cannot enter the ground directly via one of the outlets; this would result in a significantly increased water requirement, which is undesirable. Initial tests have shown that water consumption can be significantly reduced by up to 70% using the clay body or the systems according to the invention, while significantly less weed growth and plant diseases are observed, resulting in a significantly higher overall yield of plants, e.g. vegetables, herbs. With a wall thickness of 8 mm or more, the water release through the clay body from the inside to the outside depends less on the water pressure itself and more on the environmental conditions surrounding the clay body. If the outside is damp because the surrounding soil is already moist, there is a reduced natural osmosis effect, while water release is greater when the surrounding soil is dry. The clay bodies thus essentially "sweat" water through their walls as needed (without excessive dilution), and the corresponding wall thickness ensures that water pressure is not the decisive factor for water release, but rather, as mentioned, the immediate external conditions around the clay body. In the systems according to the invention, it has also been found that air is reliably never present in the systems, even when the clay bodies with the connected hoses are first laid and then the water is added. It is also possible that a third connection is provided in the area of ​​the middle section, which then again has the dimensions of an inlet or outlet and the middle section itself is closed; only with this third connection is it also possible to supply a special fertilizer for very specific clay bodies in the irrigation system, if a hose with the corresponding connection to a fertilizer reservoir is provided at this third connection. The water supply for the clay bodies or the described irrigation systems does not necessarily have to be clean, clear drinking water; it also works very well with collected rainwater, e.g. from the rainwater barrel, but also with water that is rather naturally cloudy due to suspended solids, e.g. dust, sand, plant materials. The clay bodies also act as filters, allowing only water to pass through, but not suspended particles. Since the clay bodies have a very large surface area on their interior, this permeability is unlikely to be quickly lost if the pores become clogged. Substances present in naturally turbid water will settle inside the clay bodies, but these can be easily washed out with a simple cleaning process, such as rinsing. This also applies to the exterior of the clay bodies, which are constantly in contact with the surrounding soil and where solids also accumulate. These clay bodies can be cleaned externally with a brush, a sponge, or a jet of water; a strong jet of water is particularly suitable for cleaning the inside of the clay bodies. Preferably, the clay bodies are cleaned on the outside with a large, coarse brush at regular intervals, e.g. once a year, and are also maintained and cleaned on the inside, whereby vinegar or citric acid or algae remover is optionally used when flushing the entire system (i.e. clay bodies and hose system) in order to ensure the long-term function of all elements of the irrigation system. The clay bodies can also have an external receptacle to accommodate, for example, a small rod, pole, or similar object, which is then visible at ground level when inserted into the receptacle. This solution has the advantage that the user of the system always knows where the clay bodies are located in the ground, thus preventing damage to the clay bodies during gardening work or making it easier to locate them again when re-laying the system. Preferably, the rods, poles, or similar objects are capped at the top of the receptacle (which can be a small ring that is either part of the clay body or of the pipe clamp or hose) with a visual marker, such as a flag or similar. If the recess is part of the clay body itself, it is already incorporated during manufacturing. Preferably, several such recesses are provided on the clay body so that, after installation, there is always a recess position into which a rod, pole, or similar object can be inserted vertically, ensuring it is clearly visible from above ground.

Claims

Clay body (1) for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening, consisting of a shell made of fired clay, which has a central part (4) with a closed outer wall (15) and an inner cavity (9) for receiving water and is produced by slip casting or extrusion, wherein the central part (4) has an inlet (2) at one end, wherein the inlet (2) consists of two sections (5, 6), namely a first section (5) which is attached directly to the central part (4) and a second section (6), wherein the first section (5) is located between the central part (4) and the second section (6) and the outer diameter of the first section (5) is smaller than the outer diameter of the second section (6), wherein the first section (5) has a length adapted to the length of an adjustable inlet closure means (22) to accommodate a conduit (18, 19, 20) which is placed over both sections (5, 6) of the inlet (2),to be securely and tightly sealed with the inlet sealing compound (22) on the first and / or second section. Clay body according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer diameter of the second section (6) is a clear dimension larger than the inner diameter of the conduit (18, 19, 20), which is preferably a hose made of flexible material. Clay body according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet (2) and the middle part (4) are manufactured together. Clay body according to one of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the middle part (4) and the inlet (2) are manufactured separately and joined together after manufacture, for example by pressing or gluing. Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clay body (1) has a second end which is provided with a closure (3) or an outlet (10), wherein the outlet (10) has the structure and dimensions of the inlet (2). Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the middle part (4) of the clay body is essentially cylindrical and has a structure (16) on the outside to increase the outer surface area. Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet closure means (22) is a clamp, in particular a hose clamp or pipe clamp, and the clamp has a width that corresponds approximately or exactly to the length (L1) of the first section (5). Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet (2) of the clay body has a third section (7) which adjoins the second section (6) in a direction away from the central part (4), wherein the third section (7) has an outer diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the first and second sections. Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first section (5) is essentially cylindrical and the second section (6) has the same outer circumference as the first section (5) in the area of ​​the transition to the first section, the diameter of the second section (6) is balloon-like or convex and increases in the longitudinal direction away from the middle part (4) and decreases in the direction of the third section (7), and assumes the outer diameter of the third section in the area of ​​the transition to the third section. Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet is designed to accommodate pipes or hoses with standardized dimensions, for example ½ inch and / or ¾ inch internal dimension. Clay body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall thickness of the middle part (4) is in the range of 5 mm to 12 mm, preferably 8 mm to 9 mm. System of a number of clay bodies for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening, wherein a plurality of clay bodies (1) according to one of the preceding claims are connected to a supply line, wherein in the area of ​​the connection of the clay body (1) to the line (18, 19, 20), the line has a T-piece (21) to guide water on the one hand through the line (18, 19, 20) and on the other hand to the connected clay body (1), wherein a line section (23) of a selected length is formed between the T-piece and the connected clay body and the line section (23) is attached to the clay body (1) by means of the inlet closure means (22). System according to claim 12, characterized in that the length of the conduit section (23) between the T-piece (21) and the clay body (1) is designed such that the clay body (1) lies at the desired depth in the ground, preferably vertically in the ground in the longitudinal direction, and on the other hand the supply line (18, 19, 20) is still visible above ground. System of a plurality of clay bodies for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening, wherein a plurality of clay bodies (1) according to one of the preceding claims are connected to the supply line (18, 19, 20), each having an inlet (2) as well as an outlet (10), wherein the supply line (18, 19, 20) is sealed to the inlets and / or outlets of the clay bodies (1) by means of a sealing means (22), wherein the clay body (1) which forms the termination of the system has an outlet which is closed with a plug, a cap. System of a plurality of clay bodies for soil irrigation and / or soil moistening, wherein a plurality of clay bodies (1) according to one of the preceding claims are connected to the supply line (18, 19, 20), each of which has an inlet (2) as well as an outlet (10), wherein the supply line (18, 19, 20) is sealed to the inlets and / or outlets of the clay bodies (1) by means of a sealing means (22) and wherein the clay body which forms the termination of the system has an inlet but no outlet.

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