-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BxLDEe99By5P8f1oqChq1trEAIj+tUTjcOC41yE7dCqZPI8SNbjGU/YGre/pzi/U
 R5u3wROXZLbHJO+ifBzWBg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-05-049233.txt : 20051019
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-05-049233.hdr.sgml : 20051019
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051019214400
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-05-049233
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051017
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051019
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051019

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EWALD OLIVER C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001280672

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11442
		FILM NUMBER:		051146166

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5885 LANDERBROOK DR STE 205
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124
</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>2005-10-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280672</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EWALD OLIVER C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>43.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.70</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option was canceled pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 2, 2005, among Chart Industries, Inc., CI Acquisition, Inc. (the &quot;Buyer&quot;), certain stockholders of Chart Industries, Inc. and First Reserve Fund X, L.P. in exchange for a cash payment of $43,400, representing the difference between the exercise price of the option and the per share consideration paid by the Buyer for the underlying Chart Industries common stock on the effective date of the merger ($64.75 per share).  This disposition was approved as a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 by the Board of Directors of Chart Industries.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Oliver C. Ewald</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----