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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 6EhA1A4mhHzcxmsxVXr2lA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-029752.txt : 20041005
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-029752.hdr.sgml : 20041005
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041005172457
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-029752
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041005
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041005

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAPLAN STEPHEN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001142409

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11442
		FILM NUMBER:		041066809

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC
		STREET 2:		333 SOUTH GRAND AVE. 28TH FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHART INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000892553
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FABRICATED PLATE WORK (BOILER SHOPS) [3443]
		IRS NUMBER:				341712937
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			2002

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5885 LANDERBROOK DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 150
		CITY:			MAYFIELD HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4407531490
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000892553</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHART INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CIDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001142409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAPLAN STEPHEN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>333 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, 28TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">OCM Principal Opportunities Fund II, L.P. (&quot;OCM Fund&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of 2,463,638 shares of Common Stock, 366,368 shares of which were acquired on October 1, 2004.  Oaktree Capital Management, LLC (&quot;Oaktree&quot;) is the general partner of the OCM Fund.  Oaktree receives a management fee for managing the assets of the OCM Fund and has a carried interest in the OCM Fund.  The Reporting Person, Stephen A. Kaplan, is a principal and member of Oaktree and a portfolio manager of the OCM Fund, and therefore Mr. Kaplan may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares owned by the OCM Fund.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen A. Kaplan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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